Central America Won't
Wait For Costa Rica
The other Central
American countries won't
wait for Costa Rica in
the event it votes "No"
on the October 7
referendum on the
Tratado de Libre
Comercio (TLC) - free
trade agreement with the
United States and the
Dominican Republic,
known as CAFTA-DR.
Costa Rica is the only
signatory country to the
trade deal that has not
ratified.
The Minister of Economy
of El Salvadro, Yolanda
Mayorga, said yesterday
at a press conferecne
that "the countries that
are ready will move
forward".
"Costa Ricans must ask
themselves if they are
the ones losing in such
a case", said Mayorga,
as Central America eyes
a trade deal with the
European Union (EU).
For Costa Rican's
ministro de Comercio
Exterior (foreign trade
minister), Marco Vinicio
Ruiz, the problem is
that if the TLC vote
goes "Si", there is
little time to put the
deal in place as the
final date is March
2008.
El Salvador, Honduras,
Guatemala and Nicaragua
have all ratified and
implemented their
respective trade deals.
Guatemala's economy
minister, Luis Oscar
Estrada, added that the
situation has presented
inconveniences for the
textile industy. "We had
a large interchange with
Costa Rica, mainly in
the purchase of threads
that were purchased
there and now we
cannot", said Estrada.
Mayorga added that a
postponement for Costa
Rica is highly unlikely
and that Costa Rica's
absence in the trade
deal can not only affect
the integration of the
region, but also
negotiations with the
European Union.
The first round of trade
talks with the Europeans
will be between October
22 and 26 in San José.
However, before that
meeting takes place,
negotiators are expected
to meet in Guatemala on
October 18 to define the
details of the talks.
"Central American will
not wait for us. Nor
will the Americans or
the Europeans. Those who
have their agreements in
place will forge ahead",
said Ruiz.
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