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Free Trade Deal A Priority
The
Arias government included
approval of the free trade
accord in a list of 38 projects
it sees as a priority.
Costa Rica is the last
country left to ratify the
Central American Free Trade
Agreement (CAFTA) or Tratado
Libre de Comercio (TLC) as it is
known locally,
The list was sent to lawmakers
late Thursday by President
Arias. Congress is expected to
analyze the accord in August
during a special session, and
will likely approve the deal.
Congress failed to approve the
TLC under former President Abel
Pacheco, who had argued that
lawmakers needed to pass a
series of fiscal reforms before
considering the accord.
Unions are opposing the deal,
saying it will hurt farmers and
factory workers.
Arias' strong support for the
TLC nearly cost him his bid to
return to the presidency. He
argued in his campaign that the
trade deal will help revitalize
the country's stagnant economy.
His opponent, Otton Solís,
argued that the deal should be
renegotiated and has vowed to
stall it in Congress,
The project list also included
electoral and immigration
reforms.
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