TLC One Step Closer
To Reality
Notwithstanding the
opposition tactics and
the failure to reach a
quorum on Wednesday, the
Legislative Assembly
approved the last of the
complimentary laws for
the ratification of the
Tratado de Libre
Comercio (TLC) - free
trade agreement with the
United States.
Thursday afternoon the
Ley de Propriedad
Intelectual received
approval of first
reading.
Of the 43 legislators
present, 28 voted in
favour of the bill,
following a bombardment
of questions and attacks
by legislators of the
Movimiento Libertario,
Frente Amplio y el
Partido Acción Ciudadana
(PAC)against the
ministro de Comercio
Exterior, Marco Vinicio
Ruiz.
The bill was forced back
before legislators
following a decision by
the Sala Constitucional
(Constitutional Court)
ruled that the
legislation was breached
constitutional matters
and had to be redrafted
before it could be
presented again for
voting.
Costa Rica has until
December 31, 2008 to
ratify the free trade
deal with the United
States, Nicaragua,
Honduras, Guatemala, El
Salvador and the
Dominican Republic. All
but Costa Rica have
ratified and have their
respective deals in
place.
Costa Rica is the only
signatory country having
to ask its trade
partners for not one,
but two, extensions, as
legislators failed to
pass the required
complimentary laws in
the prescribed time.
Costa Rican president,
Oscar Arias, and his
brother, Rodrigo Arias,
the ministro de la
Presidencia, showed
their frustration for
legislators and
opposition groups for
failing to heed to the
will of the people, who
voted last November in a
referendum that decided
to ratify the trade deal
or not. The "yes" vote
won by a small margin.
The bill now requires
second reading and the
signature of president
Arias for it to become
into law.
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