September 27, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Fewer people in Costa Rica support the signing of a commerce deal with other neighbouring nations, the Dominican Republic and the United States, according to a poll by Unimer published by La Nación. 49.1 per cent of respondents would vote in favour of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) in an upcoming referendum, down 6.9 points since August.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Fewer people in Costa Rica support the signing of a commerce deal with other neighbouring nations, the Dominican Republic and the United States, according to a poll by Unimer published by La Nación. 49.1 per cent of respondents would vote in favour of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) in an upcoming referendum, down 6.9 points since August.

Conversely, 46.3 per cent of respondents would reject the deal in the ballot box, up 10.3 points in a month.

In May 2004, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua agreed to the CAFTA with the U.S. 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 the CAFTA.

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. He was sworn in as president for the second time in May 2006. Arias supports the CAFTA but promised to put its ratification to a nationwide vote. The plebiscite—which can only be binding if at least 40 per cent of all registered voters take part—is scheduled for Oct. 7.

On Sept. 24, Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate from Argentina, called on Costa Ricans to reject the CAFTA, claiming the negotiations preceding the draft were unequal and unfair, and declaring, "Slaves are not able to negotiate, but rather forced to yield: only free countries are entitled to negotiate."

Polling Data

How would you vote on the referendum to ratify the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)?
(Decided Voters)

	Sept. 2007	Aug. 2007	Jul. 2007
Yes	49.1%	56%	51.5%
No	46.3%	36%	42.1%
No reply	4.6%	8%	6.4%

Source: Unimer / La Nación
Methodology: Interviews with 1,238 Costa Rican adults, conducted from Sept. 12 to Sept. 18, 2007. Margin of error is 3.4 per cent.