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Costa Ricans Wary of Free Trade
Agreement
Support among Costa Ricans for
the Tratado Libre de Comercio
(TLC) - the Central American
Free Trade Agreement - with the
United States fell from 57
percent in 2004, to 41 percent
in April according to a poll
published by the Universidad de
Costa Rica (UCR) on Friday.
Those undecided about the trade
pact rose from 10 percent to 21
percent, according to the poll
by the university's Institute
for Population Studies.
The level of opposition to the
pact among the 600 people
interviewed increased from 32
percent to 38 percent. The most
frequently cited concerns were
possible closures of local
firms, an increase in social
problems or environmental
damage.
The poll had a margin of error
of 4 percent.
Trade unions will take the
opportunity tomorrow - Labour
Day - in Costa Rica to take to
the streets to protest the TLC.
Protestors are expected to march
to Legislative Assembly where
inside President Abel Pacheco
will give the legislative
deputies his annual report.
Union leaders have vowed to
paralyze the country to let the
politicians know how Costa
Ricans feel, though have said
over and over, all
demonstrations will be peaceful.
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