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Costa Ricans Want Free Trade with U.S.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most people in Costa Rica want to enter a commercial agreement with the United States and other Central American nations, according to a poll by Demoscopia published in Al Día. 47.2 per cent of respondents believe the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) should be ratified.
In May 2004, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua agreed to the CAFTA with the United States. The Dominican Republic followed suit in August. The agreement—which would reduce or eliminate taxes and tariffs on imports—must be approved by each country's legislative branch.
To date, Costa Rica remains the only country that has not ratified CAFTA. Former Costa Rican president Abel Pacheco postponed debate on the trade deal, hoping that the Legislative Assembly would approve a series of bills related to the country's fiscal system.
Óscar Arias—a member of the National Liberation Party (PLN)—won the February 2006 presidential election with 40.92 per cent of all cast ballots. Arias headed the government from 1986 to 1990, and was able to run again after the Costa Rican Legislative Assembly opted to bring back presidential re-election in 2003. He was sworn in for the second time in May 2006. Arias supports the CAFTA and expects to have it ratified by the end of 2007.
On Feb. 26, protesters belonging to unions, student bodies, environmental and community groups staged a massive rally in San José, the country's capital, requesting Congress to stop the CAFTA and threatening to call a nationwide strike.
Polling Data
Do you support or oppose the ratification of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)?
Support | 47.2% |
Oppose | 34.0% |
No reply | 18.8% |
Source: Demoscopia / Al Día
Methodology: Interviews to 1,215 Costa Rican adults, conducted from Feb. 10 to Feb. 19, 2007. Margin of error is 2.8 per cent.