Costa Rica trade perks not conditional: Democrats

[arcos]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Democrats sought to reassure Costa Rican voters on Friday their country would not lose U.S. trade benefits if they rejected a free-trade agreement with Washington, following a Bush administration warning they could be at risk.

"Congress is constitutionally responsible for regulating international commerce. As such, we reiterate our longstanding position that preference programs should not be conditioned on a country entering into a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States," two senior Democrats in the House of Representatives said.

<snip>

Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont Democrat whose remarks during a recent trip to Costa Rica partly prompted Schwab's statement, urged President George W. Bush in a letter on Friday to make clear Costa Rica would not face U.S. retaliation if the pact were rejected.

"For an official of the United States to warn the people of Costa Rica of possible retaliation of any kind for exercising their rights in an election is unworthy of the democratic traditions our countries share. This is particularly disheartening since CAFTA is just as controversial in the United States as it is in Costa Rica," Sanders said.

<strong>Two other Democrats announced plans on Friday to introduce legislation that would make all of Costa Rica's current trade benefits permanent. </strong>

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/05/AR2007100502137.html

---

It has been great to have the support of US Democrats. Pelosi, Reid, Brown, Dorgan, Sanders, (Rep.) Levin, Rangel, Sánchez and a few others have all gotten involved, sent out press releases, gave out interviews, etc supporting our position that the trade benefits that Costa Rica enjoys are not in danger if CAFTA is rejected.

The Democrats and the Bush administration are fighting here, by proxy. While the Democrats clearly support the NO it has been obvious (unsurprisingly, though) that the Bush administration clearly supports and encourages the Costa Rican government's policies and scare tactics during the campaign, and has been a willing participant in intimidating Costa Rican voters.

[alfredo]

1. Showing a bit of spine.

bush talks the democracy talk, but if anyone tries to exercise their rights, his boot comes down on them.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

2. yeah, one transverse process

now can we get a spinous process?

[Warren Stupidity]

3. "Congress is constitutionally responsible "

I am quite sure that the irony of that phrase is lost on these 'two senior Democrats in the House of Representatives'.

[gtar100]

5. Fighting for democracy over there so they don't have to here

"Congress is constitutionally responsible"

Yea, they do sort of pick and choose where that's applicable.

Good on all the these congressmen and senators for doing what is right. I'm glad they're making this strong stand for democracy and for Costa Rica. But I also wish they'd apply the same, strong tactics here at home in protection of our constitutional rights.

And I wish we had the option to vote for NAFTA, CAFTA and all other "free" trade agreements.

[Judi Lynn]

4. It's great that these Democrats have come forth to explain what the rules are, now that Bush

can't use the Congress as a weapon against Costa Ricans who know the FTA is bad for them. This would have been the situation if the right-wingers had maintained control, but they've lost it, and it's good to explain the difference.

Threatening Latin American populations if they don't vote the way _Bush wants them to vote has been _Bush's practise from the moment he stole the pResidency. He has sent his Defense Secretary, Security Advisor, and many members of his State Department to rain down torrents of threats on various countries as their elections and referendums approached every single year.

You may recall he has sent his own brother, Jeb, and that slimeball Oliver North to Nicaragua, etc., to refreshen their memories on his threat to make it impossible for their loved ones working in the U.S. to send home remittances to them from their jobs, a truly nasty, back-stabbing maneuver.

The Congress won't cooperate now. This is GREAT news!

One more day, Arcos!

[Judi Lynn]

6. Anyone wanting additional information on this unique, wonderful event, here's a link

to a terrific article by DU'er "marmar," posted in Editorials:

Threats, Dirty Tricks, Fake Polls: Costa Rica Votes Under Duress on "Free Trade"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=312475&mesg_id=312475

[GeminiProgressive]

7. Oh and Bernie Sanders

isn't a Democrat he's a socialist.

[Judi Lynn]

8. Are you sure you're talking to me? I didn't mention Bernie Sanders.

[GeminiProgressive]

9. I was just talking about

the original article from the Washignton Post. Sorry, I should have been more specific!

[Judi Lynn]

10. Just found an article he wrote on the Costa Rican referendum, in "editorials,"

posted by DU'er "marmar:"

Fair Trade
Posted October 5, 2007 | 12:49 PM (EST

Costa Rica on Sunday will become the first country where citizens have the opportunity to vote for or against a trade agreement. Despite being heavily outspent by the moneyed interests, despite opposition from the Costa Rican government and the U.S. ambassador, despite an extremely hostile media, the latest polls show momentum building for the opposition to the Central American Free Trade Agreement. Incredibly, just the other day, in a nation of only 4 million people, more than 100,000 marched in opposition to the treaty -- a sign of the deep grassroots opposition there to CAFTA.

Free trade is very good for the large multinational corporations who can throw American workers out on the street, move abroad to China and other low-wage countries, hire people there for pennies an hour, and bring their products back into this country. For those people, for the CEOs of large corporations, unfettered free trade has been a very good thing, but for the middle-class and working families of this country, for working families and poor people in Mexico and in other low-wage countries, unfettered free trade has been an unmitigated disaster.
(snip)

There may be disagreement on the merits of unfettered free trade, but there should be no disagreement that when the people in a free, democratic and independent country like Costa Rica vote their conscience they should not be punished by the world's superpower. That is not what democracy is about.

A Journal columnist, Mary Anastasia O'Grady, wrote last Monday about how wonderful passage of the trade agreement will be for the people of Costa Rica. The Journal said the exact same thing to the people of Mexico during the 1993 debate over the North American Free Trade Agreement.

What happened with the passage of Nafta? In Mexico, the agricultural sector has been decimated by cheap exports from American agribusiness. Poverty has increased, the middle class has declined and people are literally dying in the desert trying to flee Mexico for the U.S. Working families in Mexico suffer, the rich have gotten richer and we now have the obscenity of the wealthiest person in the world, Mexican Carlos Slim Helu, coming from a country in which millions of families struggle to feed their children. This may be the kind of economic development championed by you, but not by me. We can have trade policies that can do better, that must do better.
(snip/...)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-bernie-sanders/fair-trade_b_67322.html

[CRH]

11. Thanks for the post arcos, ...

watching this from the ground for the last two years, this ending is very impressive. The NO al TLC out spent by staggering amounts, the initial blanketing of the news papers and the TV notices with pro TLC propaganda and threats, then finally the Arias Administration scandal with the vice president threatening democracy; nothing, has thwarted the the grass roots energy and door to door education campaign. Ordinary Ticos teaching their neighbors, and through extension of results, Americans, what the power of the people and democracy is all about.

Just five months ago the opposition to TLC was twenty points behind, and now a day before polling, the opposition is by most accounts twelve or more points ahead. The final hurdle of this referendum, the process a decade in coming and in its first test, will be the forty percent turnout needed to qualify the contest. The weather forecasters are predicting heavy afternoon rains, and are recommending the people get to the polls early.

Assuming the forty percent is obtained, Costa Rica can be proud in its independence and its tradition of being an alternative example of a peaceful society with concern for the well being and human rights of its people. Costa Rica will have become a bellwether in time and history, of when fair trade and human rights challenged and survived the threats, corruption and pressures of the globalized corporate 'free trade' movement, in pursuit of its violation of decency. David will hath slew, Goliath

Costa Ricans should be proud.

[AX10]

12. Good to know this.

At least Bushler can't use the congress against non-cooperative nations anymore.