[Ip-health] Reuters: Costa Rica Election Another Blow to CAFTA

[Mike Palmedo]

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DworldNews&storyID=3D2=
006-02-07T233319Z_01_N07276540_RTRUKOC_0_US-COSTARICA-ELECTION.xml

Costa Rica election another blow to US trade pact

Reuters
John PcPaul
Feb 7, 2006

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (Reuters) - A U.S. free trade pact with Central Americ=
a, already delayed by a legal wrangle, has run into further trouble at pres=
idential elections in Costa Rica where voters punished the main pro-trade c=
andidate.

Costa Rica's electoral board began a recount on Tuesday of the vote from th=
e weekend, which ended with a near dead heat despite opinion polls showing =
free trade advocate Oscar Arias would win easily.

Arias, a former president who strongly backs the U.S.-Central American Free=
 Agreement, or CAFTA, won just over 40 percent of votes on Sunday, on a par=
 with main rival Otton Solis who wants to renegotiate the deal.

A winner should be announced in two weeks. If it turns out that no candidat=
e garners minimum support of more than 40 percent, a new round of voting wi=
ll be held on April 2.

"Even if Arias wins, it is still bad news for CAFTA because Costa Ricans sa=
id, 'Hold on, this is something we have to look at,'" said Michael Lettieri=
 of the Council on Hemispheric Affairs think tank in Washington.

Costa Rica is the only signatory not to ratify the pact, a spearhead of Was=
hington's influence in Latin America where leftist leaders have increasingl=
y challenged U.S. policies.

[snip]


Mike Palmedo
Research and Web
Consumer Project on Technology
T =96 202-332-2670
F =96 202-332-2673
mpalmedo@cptech.org