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Costa Rica Wins CAFTA Delay

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica
Costa Rica has until Oct. 1 to implement the Central American Free Trade Agreement with the U.S., the president announced Wednesday.

The seven-month delay gives lawmakers extra time to adopt laws that were originally required by Feb. 29 under the accord.

President Oscar Arias made the announcement at a news conference in Costa Rica's capital San Jose. He said the agreement was signed Wednesday in Washington by representatives of the accord's seven member nations.

Opponents of the accord have blocked approval of the required laws in Costa Rica's Congress, sometimes questioning whether they are constitutional.

Arias urged lawmakers to quickly approve the eight remaining initiatives needed to implement the accord. One of the most controversial would require more competition within the telecommunications industry.

So far, only two initiatives have been approved. They deal with judicial reforms and local companies that represent foreign brands in Costa Rica.

The rest of Central America and the Dominican Republic joined CAFTA in 2006. But protests and opposition in Costa Rica delayed its approval until November, when Arias signed the accord into law.

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