By Geoff Earle

Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) recently called himself a “pro-trade guy” who generally favors deals to lower trade barriers around the globe. But last year, Coleman joined group of senators called the CAFTA Action Caucus whose expressed purpose is the defeat of the Central American Free Trade Agreement.

The apparent mixed signals are causing problems for some of Coleman’s constituents. Last week, a group called the Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition, which opposes CAFTA, bused in hundreds of people to protest outside Coleman’s office in St. Paul. But when the group’s state coordinator, Octavio Ruiz, learned of Coleman’s membership in the anti-CAFTA group, he wasn’t sure at first whether the group was protesting an ally or a foe.

Minnesota sugar-beet growers also are urging Coleman to oppose the CAFTA deal, which is a priority for the White House and congressional leaders.