Costa Rica to Restart CAFTA Talks
The Costa Rican congressional International Affairs Committee confirmed it would restart talks Wednesday with various social sectors to analyze possible approval of the free trade agreement with the United States.

Known locally as the Tratado Libre de Comercio TLC), the current finally sent the trade agreement to the Legislative Assembly, where it has been bogged down in constitutional challenges.

Talks on the agreement were suspended due to the February 5 elections. Both groups of pro and con the commercial agreement are lobbying the new president-elect, Oscar Arias, who has said during his campaign that he favours a trade deal.

According to Committee chair Rolando Lacle, the full support of Costa Rican President-elect Oscar Arias for the free trade agreement encouraged the committee to reactivate talks.

The very first dialogues will be with Foreign Trade Minister Manuel Gonzalez, who has also insisted on the approval.

More than 30 organizations must still be heard before the inauguration of Oscar Arias on May 8, the official added.

It will require the vote of more than 57 deputies to endorse or reject CAFTA after the document passes to the plenary.

Arias said that United States President George W. Bush called on him to speed up implementing the agreement.

Costa Rica is the only Central American nation that has not ratified CAFTA. Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Hondueras and the Dominican Republic has all ratified the trade agreement in their respective legislature.

The trade deal with the United States was to have come into effect last January 1. The trade deal is already in effect in El Salvador since March 1.