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CAFTA

Hertell discards problems with DR-CAFTA
7-Mar-2006
United States ambassador Hans Hertell discarded yesterday that there existed “obstacles” to entering the Free Trade Agreement with the US and Central America (DR-CAFTA), notwithstanding admitting that there are still certain challenges to be faced.
Salvadorians condemn FTA burden
7-Mar-2006
Representatives of the Salvadorian Association of Cable Operators (ASCAES) has cautioned that the recently established free trade agreement with the US is already affecting 60 national companies.
Central American trade deal is being delayed by partners
3-Mar-2006 New York Times
While the delay is in part a sign of how complex the negotiations have been, it also reflects the extent of the concerns about the agreement in the tiny economies it will affect.
Private rivers: Will transnational water companies swallow El Salvador’s water supply?
2-Mar-2006 Upside Down World
CAFTA creates a new legal framework for the sale of water and other public services, although it allows countries to "opt-out" of the public services of their choosing. El Salvador’s President Tony Saca chose no service exemptions, and thus opened the entire water sector to competition by international corporations.
Salvadorans protest trade deal with US
1-Mar-2006 Houston Chronicle
Thousands of street vendors, university students and labor unionists marched in San Salvador Tuesday against a regional free trade accord with the United States, which they say will hurt small businesses and organized labor.
Costa Rican presidential hopeful promises to obstruct Cafta
27-Feb-2006 FT
The leader of Costa Rica’s second largest political party has vowed to obstruct efforts to ratify a 2004 free trade agreement between Central America and the US.
El Salvador: Free trade to begin in March
26-Feb-2006 Miami Herald
A free-trade agreement with El Salvador will take effect on March 1, the Bush administration announced, initially leaving behind five other Latin American nations that are supposed to be part of the Central American Free Trade Agreement.
Guatemalans march against US FTA
25-Feb-2006 Prensa Latina
Hundreds of union members, farmers, women, indigenous and representatives of other Guatemalan sectors marched in front of the US Embassy Friday chanting "No to the TLC" (Spanish for FTA).
CAFTA In Limbo
17-Feb-2006
Jacobo Kattan was hoping to build an industrial park and create 8,000 new jobs after the expected implementation of a regional free-trade pact last month. Instead, he’s had to fire 2,000 workers and close three companies as the region’s clothing industry haemorrhages, putting factories in legal limbo while much of their business leaves for Asia.
Industry and Commerce chief: The US has not concluded reviewing FTA
16-Feb-2006
Industry and Commerce minister Francisco Javier Garcia blamed the US Trade Office for delays in reviewing documentation pertinent to the country’s entrance in the Free Trade Treaty with United States and Central America (DR-CAFTA).
Guatemala youth join anti-FTA rally
16-Feb-2006
Guatemalan young people announced Thursday their willingness to join the massive February 24 march scheduled against the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US in Guatemala City.
CAFTA delays costing jobs, investment
15-Feb-2006 AP
The delay in implementing the Central American Free Trade Agreement has hit the region’s clothing industry hard, putting factories in legal limbo while much of their business leaves for Asia.
Salvadorian women concern on FTA
11-Feb-2006
Workers of the Salvadorian maquilas Friday expressed their concern on the prompt implementation of the Free Trade Area (FTA) with the US.
US delivers studies on six strategic economic sectors for FTA
9-Feb-2006
United States ambassador to the country, Hans Hertell, handed over to Industry and Commerce minister Francisco Javier Garcia, six studies that focus on strengthening competitiveness of equal number of productive sectors, with a view on the Free Trade Agreement. “I am here to deliver these six studies by sector, which describe new and ample opportunities,” said Hertell.
Costa Rica election another blow to US trade pact
8-Feb-2006 Reuters
A US free trade pact with Central America, already delayed by a legal wrangle, has run into further trouble at presidential elections in Costa Rica where voters punished the main pro-trade candidate.
Free-Trade Backer Favored in Costa Rica
7-Feb-2006
A Nobel Peace Prize winner who supports a free-trade agreement with the United States was favored in pre-election polls as Costa Ricans chose a new president on Sunday. He faced a rival who said the pact would hurt farmers.
More CAFTA failures for the Bush administration - thousands protest free trade agreement in El Salvador
2-Feb-2006 US Newswire
As President Bush touted the benefits of free trade in his State of the Union address, protests filled the streets of San Salvador on Jan. 31 in the latest of a string of events demonstrating the continued failure of the US-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA).
Food-safety dispute stalls trade agreement
24-Jan-2006
The U.S.-Central American Free Trade Agreement that was supposed to take effect Jan. 1 is being held up by the U.S. because some of the countries involved have yet to recognize U.S. meat-inspection procedures as valid.
US official: free trade is big boost for DR
12-Jan-2006
United States Under-Secretary for the Western Hemisphere Patrick Duddy affirmed last night while visiting the Congress that the Free Trade Agreement will be greatly beneficial to the Dominican Republic and other co-signing countries.
Anti-trade feelings delay CAFTA
12-Jan-2006 Miami Herald
The Central American Free Trade agreement faces skepticism and negative sentiment in countries working to implement the pact.