Central America | CAFTA Negotiators Discuss Agriculture | USMEF Vice Presiden...

Central America

CAFTA Negotiators Discuss Agriculture

USMEF Vice President, Trade Development Richard Fritz and Vice President, Western Hemisphere Homero Recio attended the negotiations for the U.S.-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) last week in Nicaragua’s capital, Managua.

Negotiators discussed agriculture, focusing on market access and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) concerns.  While progress was slow, all parties are committed to keep the process moving forward.  Beef and pork producers in the region continue to oppose additional market access for U.S. products, and U.S. crop subsides are of significant concern to the Central American countries, as well as U.S. restrictions on fruit, vegetables, flowers and other products due to SPS issues. On Thursday, a large orderly demonstration opposing the CAFTA negotiations took place in downtown Managua but had no impact on the trade talks.

The talks are scheduled to be completed by the end of this year and to result in a free trade agreement similar to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between Mexico, Canada and the United States.  CAFTA would consist of the U.S. and five countries of Central America — Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala.

Fritz reports that though the mood of the negotiators appeared positive despite the failed World Trade Organization (WTO) Cancun Ministerial, the pace of the negotiations will need to accelerate substantially and compromises will have to be made to meet the end-of-the-year deadline.  The next scheduled meeting is set for October.

Central America

CAFTA Negotiators Discuss Agriculture

USMEF Vice President, Trade Development Richard Fritz and Vice President, Western Hemisphere Homero Recio attended the negotiations for the U.S.-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) last week in Nicaragua’s capital, Managua.

Negotiators discussed agriculture, focusing on market access and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) concerns.  While progress was slow, all parties are committed to keep the process moving forward.  Beef and pork producers in the region continue to oppose additional market access for U.S. products, and U.S. crop subsides are of significant concern to the Central American countries, as well as U.S. restrictions on fruit, vegetables, flowers and other products due to SPS issues. On Thursday, a large orderly demonstration opposing the CAFTA negotiations took place in downtown Managua but had no impact on the trade talks.

The talks are scheduled to be completed by the end of this year and to result in a free trade agreement similar to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between Mexico, Canada and the United States.  CAFTA would consist of the U.S. and five countries of Central America — Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala.

Fritz reports that though the mood of the negotiators appeared positive despite the failed World Trade Organization (WTO) Cancun Ministerial, the pace of the negotiations will need to accelerate substantially and compromises will have to be made to meet the end-of-the-year deadline.  The next scheduled meeting is set for October.