bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

CAFTA

Guatemala and the United States commence arbitration
4-Nov-2014 Prensa Libre
45 days after putting into motion an arbitral panel for violation of labour rights, the Office of US Trade Representative (USTR) will today present the basis for its claims against Guatemala under CAFTA-DR.
Honduras near ’failed state’ status due to free trade agreement, says labor and Latino leaders
21-Oct-2014 Latin Post
Labor leaders say CAFTA-DR has had a negative impact on Honduran farmers and resulted in displaced workers, "total break down of public services" and "forced migration" of youth, while the US spends billions to deport "hundreds" back to the Central American country in shackles.
The carrot, the stick, and the seeds: US development policy faces resistance in El Salvador
16-Sep-2014 CIP Americas
While the seeds dispute was an effective rallying point, social movements must confront the elephant in the room – CAFTA.
Guatemala: activists defeat ’Monsanto Law’
10-Sep-2014 World War 4 Report
The law was originally passed to comply with an intellectual property requirement in the 2004 Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA), and it was unclear whether Guatemala might now be excluded from the US-promoted trade bloc.
Guatemala repeals plant breeder rights law
5-Sep-2014 EFE
The Congress of Guatemala has repealed the controversial "Monsanto Law" which legalised property rights on plant varieties in accordance with CAFTA.
Guatemala: Under pressure from social movements, Justice temporarily suspends part of the "Monsanto Law"
3-Sep-2014 ADITAL
Guatemala’s Constitutional Court has suspended the so-called "Monsanto Law" which was support enter into force, as an obligation under the US-Central America free trade agreement (CAFTA), on 26 September 2014.
Guatemalan court suspends "Monsanto Law"
2-Sep-2014 La Voz
Guatemala’s Constitutional Court has provisionally suspended the entry into force of the controversial "Monsanto Law" required by CAFTA to legalise property rights over plant varieties
Guatemala: People reject "Monsanto Law" for threatening food security
29-Aug-2014 Servindi
Guatemalan civil society has strongly rejected the country’s new plant breeders’ rights law imposed through the free trade agreement with the US (CAFTA).
US trade officials give Guatemala more time to install labor overhaul
26-Aug-2014 The Hill
US trade officials on Monday said they would give Guatemala more time to implement a labor rights enforcement plan under CAFTA.
CAFTA investor rights undermining democracy and the environment: Pacific Rim mining case
23-Aug-2014 Public Citizen
Pacific Rim Mining Corp., a Canadian-based multinational firm, sought to establish a massive gold mine using water-intensive cyanide ore processing in the basin of El Salvador’s largest river, Rio Lempa.
Progress made on El Salvador deal
3-Jul-2014 Politico
Washington and El Salvador moved closer to agreement on a $277 million U.S. aid package Tuesday after the Obama administration took steps to defuse a contentious trade dispute over a modest Salvadoran program to buy seeds for poor farmers.
US tying aid to agribusiness in El Salvador, groups warn
3-Jul-2014 Mint Press News
The US State Department stands accused of conditioning development aid to El Salvador to benefit and boost foreign agribusiness in the Central American nation.
Honduras: US-Korean maquila accused of CAFTA labor violations
23-Aug-2013 WNU
Some 30 inspectors from the Honduran Labor Ministry visited the Kyungshin-Lear Honduras Electrical Distribution Systems auto parts assembly plant iafter local media reported that some employees had to wear diapers at work because of restrictions on their bathroom breaks.
US commends Nicaragua’s trade liberalization
23-Dec-2012
The U.S. government is commending Nicaragua for its continued trade liberalization and integration into the global economy under the Sandinista government of President Daniel Ortega.
Canadian miner’s complaint can proceed under El Salvador law
4-Jun-2012 Reuters
Canadian company Pacific Rim can move forward under El Salvador law with a case against that country’s government for blocking a gold mining project, but cannot file suit under a regional trade agreement, a World Bank arbitration panel ruled.
DR-CAFTA: A dismal delivery of workers’ hopes
24-Apr-2012 TWN
Late last month, the umbrella coalition of US unions, the AFL-CIO, linked up with major workers groups from Honduras to file a petition with the Department of Labor in Washington, DC. The petition censured the government of the Central American country over its failure to enforce provisions of the labour chapter of the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) with the United States.
AFL-CIO Joins Honduran Unions in Petitioning US Labor Department
1-Apr-2012
This week the AFL-CIO joined the main Honduran trade unions to file a petition with the United States Department of Labor’s Public Office of Trade & Labor Affairs (OTLA) concerning the failure of the government of Honduras to effectively enforce its labor laws and comply with its commitments under the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA).
Central America lures sportswear makers as Adidas shifts orders
23-Dec-2011 Bloomberg
Sportswear producers such as Adidas are turning to Central America to complement China as a source for apparel as the region’s proximity to the US allows for quick turnaround of orders during peak seasons.
Labor, environmental activists to protest World Bank’s CAFTA tribunal
15-Dec-2011 AFL-CIO
Tomorrow, the AFL-CIO will join the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) and activists from a range of labor and environmental groups to converge on the World Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C., for a noon protest in opposition to a CAFTA case being brought against the Salvadoran government by Pacific Rim.
Pig farmers say imports cause bankruptcies, violate trade pact
5-Nov-2011
Pig farmers denounced that thus far this year the Agriculture Ministry has approved the import of nearly 6,000 tons of pork meat beyond the amount approved for the entire 2011, violating the Free Trade Agreement’s (DR-CAFTA) tariff quota.