Costa Rica Rules Out Immediate Ratification of
TLC with US
Costa Rica on Wednesday ruled out the
possibility of an immediate ratification of the Tratado Libre de
Comercio - TLC (Free Trade Agreement - FTA) between Central
America and the United States.
Foreign Trade Minister Manuel Gonzalez Saenz told the press that Costa
Rica will not ratify the TLC right now due to pressure from special
groups.
Entrepreneurs and economic sectors of Costa Rica called for the
immediate ratification, while social sectors opposed the TLC and
threatened to protest if the agreement was presented to the parliament.
The minister said if the United States ratifies the treaty, Costa Rica
will undoubtedly feel pressure, but by now no pressure has been exerted
by Washington.
The opposition party Movimiento Libertario proposed to leave the TLC to
a referendum.
Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala signed the
TLC with the United States in May 2004.
El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala have ratified the agreement, and in
Nicaragua, the text has been sent to the legislature, while Costa Rica's
executive branch still holds on to the document.
Send this Page To a Friend
|
|
