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Costa Rica


Truck drivers strike at Panama/Costa Rica border
The first major disruption of the nine-month-old Costa Rican-Panamanian free trade agreement came on July 6, when approximately 200 truck drivers from Panama, Costa Rica, and other Central American countries paralyzed cargo crossing from Paso Canoas, Panama to Cerro Punta, Costa Rica.
Costa Rica: EU not interested in free-trade agreement
Costa Rican officials announced they are not satisfied with the market opening proposal issued by the European Union (EU) prior to the beginning of the fourth round of negotiations for an eventual EU-Central America agreement. Costa Rican trade officials stated that they “do not perceive an interest on the part of the Europeans to advance the process.”
Amendments to CAFTA trade deal passed
The long and arduous road toward final approval by Costa Rica of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) with the United States has suffered yet another delay.
Costa Rican Congress approves ending its 84-year-old insurance monopoly
Costa Rica is saying goodbye to its 84-year-old insurance monopoly as it opens the industry to national and international competition.
Resistance to UPOV and the privatisation of life in Costa Rica
Interview with Silvia Rodríguez Cervantes of Costa Rica’s Biodiversity Coordination Network about the national struggle against joining UPOV (Union for the Protection of New Plant Varieties) as required by CAFTA.
U.S. or E.U.? Tico politicos split over best foreign investor
Costa Rican lawmakers are divided over who makes a better investor in their country, the United States or the European Union, according to a recent questionnaire.
The ravaging effects of capitalism on my hometowns
What will become of Costa Rica? That’s the question on my mind, now that my adopted country has narrowly accepted CAFTA. Our national slogan is "Pura vida!" meaning "pure life," and it’s commonly used as an affirmation that life is good. It’s easy to understand how such an expression could catch on here: Costa Rica has virtually no enemies, a temperate climate, and a hell of a lot of good beaches. However, as an expatriate whose previous hometowns have been despoiled by global capitalism, I find it difficult to imagine that life will be as pure or as good once the effects of CAFTA begin to kick in.
Costa Rica telecom market seen opening soon
Costa Rica, one of the few Latin America countries still with a state-run telephone sector, is expected soon to open to big foreign players as part of a trade deal with the United States.
Costa Rica negotiates Free Trade Agreement with EU
Representatives from Central America and the European Union met yesterday, March 17th, to negotiate new trade policy. One of the key elements being proposed by the Central American committee is the lowering of tariffs imposed on certain agricultural products to allow for more competitive trade.
Costa Rican Indigenous protest FTA
Hundreds of Costa Rican indigenous people began a protest against the Free Trade Agreement between Central America, the Dominican Republic and the United States. They accused the FTA of imposing the use of patented seeds that prevent traditional crops and warned that the use of transgenic seeds from the United States would affect ancestral crops closely linked to the people’s view of the world and spirituality.
Costa Rica wins 7-month CAFTA deadline extension
Costa Rica has won a seven-month extension from its U.S. and regional trade partners to pass laws required for its entry into the CAFTA free trade pact, President Oscar Arias said on Wednesday.
Costa Rica to ask for US trade delay
President Oscar Arias said Tuesday he will ask the US to delay implementation of a free-trade agreement to give the country time to pass several necessary local laws.
Costa Rica, China begin talks on free trade
A Chinese business delegation is in Costa Rica to explore the possibilities of a bilateral free trade agreement. The feasibility study would take at least six months.
Costa Ricans countdown on free trade with US
The Costa Rican Congress resumed discussion Monday on the complementary agenda required by March 1 for implementation of the Central American-US Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). Of the 13 bills needed, only 2 have been approved so far.
Legislators pass first CAFTA law
The law, one of the least controversial of the 12, regulates the relationship between foreign companies and their representatives in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica signs DR-CAFTA agreement
The DR-CAFTA free trade pact between the Central American countries, the Dominican Republic and the United States was signed into law in Costa Rica on Wednesday amid protests and a large military deployment.
CAFTA Becomes Law in Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s president on Wednesday signed into law a free trade agreement with its Central American neighbors, the United States and the Dominican Republic.
Referendum about CAFTA: Declaration of “Mujeres del NO”
As feminists we have always said NO to rape and therefore we cannot but say NO to this gang rape of our collective freedom to choose what treaties we accept.
Results: The power of NO
Hundreds of women came together to celebrate women’s contributions to the struggle against the ratification of CAFTA in Costa Rica
Human rights body uneasy about impacts of CAFTA-DR in Costa Rica
As furore continues in Costa Rica about ratification of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), members of a leading UN human rights body have been expressing their concern to Costa Rican officials today in Geneva, about the human rights impact of the trade agreement.