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Costa Rica

CAFTA’s October referendum: A death sentence for Costa Rican foreign investment?
15-Aug-2007 COHA
With a little under two months until the October referendum on the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement, time is quickly running out for Costa Rican president Óscar Arias to gain the necessary public support to pass CAFTA. The trade pact is strongly opposed by those who believe that it will not help the Costa Rican economy, while being significantly beneficial to the US.
Costa Rica urged to fess up FTA survey
31-Jul-2007 Prensa Latina
The Pro-Liberation Front against the Central America Free Trade Agreement-Dominican Republic (CAFTA-DR) demanded the Costa Rican government publish results of a poll it commissioned about the level of public support for the agreement.
Costa Rica opposition leader calls for renegotiation of Cafta
26-Jul-2007
The top opposition leader in Costa Rica said he wants to renegotiate a free-trade agreement with the US, citing as a precedent the US revamping of a similar agreement with Peru.
Anti-CAFTA camp protests outside tribunal
25-Jul-2007 Tico Times
Leaders of the movement against the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA) spoke to about 200 people yesterday outside the Supreme Elections Tribunal in San José.
Guatemala and Costa Rica: in and out of CAFTA
19-Jul-2007 IRC Americas Program
The growth in exports being celebrated by the Bank of Guatemala has nothing to do with CAFTA.
Costa Rica, free trade fewer jobs
29-Jun-2007
Costa Rica’s PAC party (Citizen Action) president Otton Solis has warned of the potential increase in unemployment if CAFTA-DR, the free trade treaty with the United States, is approved.
Minister hopes negotiation timeline for EU agreement defined this week
27-Jun-2007
Costa Rica hopes that by Friday a timeline will have been set for negotiations on an association agreement between Central America and the European Union, Foreign Trade Minister Marco Vinicio Ruiz said yesterday during a press conference.
Anti-CAFTA leaders launch offensive
12-Jun-2007
Leaders of the National Coordinator for the Fight Against CAFTA announced plans yesterday to hold demonstrations outside the Supreme Court, the Supreme Elections Tribunal, and the Legislative Assembly on Thursday.
CAFTA referendum in Costa Rica postponed
7-Jun-2007
The Supreme Elections Tribunal (TSE) announced yesterday that it is postponing a nationwide referendum on the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA) from Sept. 23 to Oct. 7 as a high court examines whether the assembly violated its procedures in its handling of legislation related to the pact.
Court in Costa Rica to Review CAFTA at Legislators’ Request
4-Jun-2007
At the request of a group of legislators, the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Sala IV) will review a controversial trade pact before Costa Rican citizens vote on it, according to a statement released Friday by the Judicial Branch.
Don’t forget to read the trade deal’s fine print
30-May-2007
It’s a trade negotiator’s nightmare. The Costa Rican Supreme Court has announced plans to review the United States-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) to assess the impact of that agreement upon civil liberties and human rights.
Business Chambers: We’ll Open Books When Asked
30-May-2007
Representatives from Costa Rican business chambers said yesterday that they’re happy to publish information on campaign donations for the upcoming free-trade referendum - but only if the Supreme Elections Tribunal (TSE) asks them to do so.
Tribunal announces tentative date for CAFTA referendum
11-May-2007
Costa Rica’s Supreme Elections Tribunal has set Sept. 23 as the tentative date for a nationwide popular vote on the controversial Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA).
The paradoxes of a “democrat”
27-Apr-2007
For those who do not know it, it is at the very least paradoxical that it was precisely President Oscar Arias, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and impassioned defender of “democracy,” who attempted to block a citizens’ initiative that would approve the convening of a referendum to decide on the Costa Rican people’s approval or not of a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States.
Businesses in Costa Rica opine on trade agreement with European Union
27-Apr-2007 Tico Times
Costa Rican business leaders are being given a chance to opine on an association agreement between Central American and the European Union before these two regions begin negotiating the agreement in Brussels, Belgium, in June.
Costa Rican deputies for FTA consultation
23-Apr-2007
Costa Rican deputies who oppose a free trade agreement with the US demanded on Monday a consultation about the project before holding a binding referendum to solve the controversy over the issue.
Referendum on FTA unleashes political controversy in Costa Rica
20-Apr-2007 GRANMA
The call for a referendum in Costa Rica to decide on the future of a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States has unleashed a hotly-debated controversy on the issue, which has marked political life here over the last three years, the AFP reports.
Costa Rica may vote down US trade
14-Apr-2007
Costa Rican President Oscar Arias Saturday announced that he will submit to the Legislative Assembly a proposal for a direct referendum over free trade agreement with the US.
Costa Rica to hold referendum on US trade pact
13-Apr-2007
Costa Rica will hold a referendum on whether to enter a regional free trade pact with the United States, President Oscar Arias said on Friday, in a blow to Washington’s trade agenda in the region.
EU: APEB wants boycott of banana imports in FTA talks with Latin America
22-Mar-2007 FreshPlaza
The association of European banana producers APEB has announced that it will request the EU to leave any discussion of the banana import tariff out of the negotiations on economic collaboration or free trade agreements with the Andean countries in South America and with the countries in Central America.