US apparel imports from Central America up 17 percent

\ US apparel and textile imports from Central America have jumped 17 percent over the last year.\ \ Production has improved after Cafta, the regional free trade agreement with the US, went into effect in 2006.\ \ The biggest gains have been from El Salvador, whose apparel and textile exports to the United States were up nearly 27 percent to $1.8 billion for the period ending in May this year.\ \ \ \ Original source: Honduras Weekly\ \ \ \ \