WASHINGTON - Facing congressional opposition to his Central American Free Trade Agreement, President Bush will meet next week with leaders from the six Latin American countries that would be included.

The White House said Monday the president would meet on May 12 with President Abel Pacheco of Costa Rica, President Leonel Fernandez of the Dominican Republic, President Tony Saca of El Salvador, President Oscar Berger of Guatemala, President Ricardo Maduro of Honduras and President Enrique Balanos of Nicaragua.

Various tallies show the pact - known as CAFTA - is in trouble in Congress, especially in the House where Democratic opponents have been joined by Republican lawmakers from sugar- and textile-producing districts. A number of Democrats have expressed reservations about supporting CAFTA, saying the administration needs to show greater efforts to enforce current trade agreements before Congress will approve new ones, especially in the light of soaring trade deficits.

CAFTA has been linked to the issue of Chinese trade by administration officials who say the agreement would benefit the U.S. textile industry because Central American apparel makers rely on U.S. yarn and fabric. Chinese apparel makers use almost no American content.

Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez has said he thinks the administration will be able to win the CAFTA vote in Congress.

As for worries among sugar producers about increased competition from the CAFTA nations, Gutierrez said there would be only a small increase in sugar imports under the pact.