Foreign Trade Minister
Positive US Will Grant
An Extension On The TLC
Costa Rica is close to
getting an extension to
the Tratado Libre de
COmercio (TLC) - free
trade agreement with the
United States, Central
America and the
Dominican Republic,
following negotiations
this week in Washington
DC.
Boosting Costa Rica's
expectations is that the
US is keen on Costa Rica
implementing the trade
deal and the desire of
US president, George W.
Bush, to be in place
before January 20, 2009.
Democratic presidential
candidate, Barack Obama,
has said that he will
review all trade deals
signed by the Bush
administration if he is
elected president on
November 4, meaning that
Costa Rica could be shut
out of the trade deal if
not ratified before the
Republicans leave
office.
To pave the way for a
speedier approval, the
Comisión de Asuntos
Constitucionales de la
Asamblea Legislativa,
has accepted a proposal
to remove paragraph 6 of
Article 78 of the Ley de
Biodiversidad,
eliminating the need to
consult indigenous
groups.
In Washingotn, the
ministro de Comercio
Exterior, Marco Vinicio
Ruiz, said the message
was positive and
fundamental for paving
the way for approval.
Ruiz, in Washington for
meetings with US trade
officials, added that
with the Asuntos
decision, the TLC could
be in force as early as
next month.
Ruiz, working out of the
Organization of American
States (OAS) offices in
Washington told the
press that "we shall see
if the Americans are
open to allowing us more
time. Tomorrow (today),
the presidents will
touch the subject".
Today, Costa Rican
president, Oscar Arias,
is to meet with
president Bush and is
expected to make a
formal request for an
extension.
The Costa Rican
delegation has expressed
optimism that the
extension will be
granted by the US, which
will also mean an
acceptance by the other
trade partners to the
deal.
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