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GUEST: Sebastian Sanchez-Retana, university student and anti-CAFTA activist from Costa Rica

Earlier this week, Costa Rican President Oscar Arias acknowledged that his nation will miss its deadline to fully comply with a free-trade agreement with the United States. Implementation of the Central America Free Trade Agreement or CAFTA, has been slowed by thirteen laws needed in order to pass it. So far, Costa Rica’s congress has only approved four of those laws, making it highly unlikely that the February 29th deadline will be met. Legislative opponents of CAFTA caution that the laws could ultimately harm the country. One controversial law in particular, that has not yet been passed, would open state controlled insurance and telecommunications up for privatization. In a national referendum in Costa Rica last October, CAFTA passed by the thinnest of margins. The pact was approved by the US Congress with just a two vote majority. Costa Rica is the last of six countries in the region to fully implement the trade agreement and is likely to be granted more time for ratification. Meanwhile social movements and congressional opponents in the country believe the fight is far from over.

To contact Sebastian, email him at imposiblemente@gmail.com.