Costa Ricans Demand TLC Renegotiation
Due to the negative consequences foreseen from the free trade treaty between Costa Rica and, opposing organizations are demanding that the government to renegotiate it.

The Tratado Libre de Comercio (TLC) - the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CADTA) - has yet to ratify by the Costa Rican legislature, while it has already been implemented by the other countries in Central America>

The trade agreement is being readied to hit the legislature floor in the coming weeks, as the Imprenta Nacional (national printer) has said it will publish the entire trade document on January 26, paving the way for public discussion.

Organizations opposed to the trade deal are taking the opportunity to act now and gain support from Costa Ricans opposed to the TLC, as well as gaining the support of legislators who also oppose it.

Eugenio Trejos, president of the National Front Supporting the Struggle against the TLC, outlined the enormous asymmetry in the treaty's exercise of power.

He declared that Costa Ricans want trade relations with all the nations of the world, but with fair and differentiated criteria.

That the United States is willing to analyze one of the articles of the free trade agreement with Peru and Colombia shows that the agreement could be discussed again, assured Albino Vargas, general secretary of  Assosiacion Nacional de Empleados Públicos (ANEP) - National Association of Public and Private workers.

According to Vargas, Costa Rican President Oscar Arias should take advantage of this and demand the United States reanalyze the treaty to avoid the social confrontation approaching.

The opposition groups have chosen February 26 as day of protest, when again they will take to the streets.

Marco Vincio Ruiz, ministro de Comercio Exterior (foreign commerce minister), said that the trade deal is not re-negotiable and that the only way to introduce the changes to the TLC, once approved and in place, is by amendments.