VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSJ #1226 3642106
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 302105Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0175
INFO WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 001226 
 
SIPDIS 
DEPT FOR EEB/TPP/BTA DGROUT AND RMANOGUE, WHA/EPSC SGARRO, EEB/TPP/IPE LHUG 
HES 
AND JURBAN 
PLEASE PASS TO USTR AMALITO AND DOLIVER 
PLEASE PASS TO TREASURY SRALSTON AND ENEPHEW 
PLEASE PASS TO COMMERCE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ETRD KIPR CS PREL PGOV
SUBJECT: COSTA RICA: 14TH CAFTA-DR BILL PASSAGE LIKELY NOT UNTIL 
FEBRUARY 
 
REF: SAN JOSE 1194 
 
SUBJECT:  COSTA RICA: FINAL CAFTA-DR BILL PASSAGE LIKELY NOT UNTIL 
FEBRUARY 
 
 
 
¶1.  Costa Rica's Legislative Assembly adjourned for the year on 
December 22 and plans to re-convene on January 18.  The committee 
handling the 14th CAFTA-DR bill-addressing three technical 
intellectual property rights (IPR) corrections that USTR 
requires-closed the final round for accepting amendments.  The bill 
now has over 100 amendments which the committee will evaluate when 
it returns to work. 
 
 
 
¶2.  In early December, opposition parties appeared willing to 
acquiesce to the bill's quick passage.  At the last moment, the 
spirit of cooperation evaporated.  Prospects for final approval of 
the bill in January are dim.  Even if the bill receives the first 
of two general plenary votes during the last week of January, the 
bill will likely be referred to the constitutional court for a 
thirty day review.   Assuming the bill passes constitutional 
review, late February to early March is the likely time frame for 
final passage in the Assembly. 
 
 
 
¶3.  The consequence of the process of the 14th bill dragging on is 
that Costa Rica will delay receiving its 2010 CAFTA-DR preferential 
sugar quota.  Costa Rica lost this CAFTA-DR benefit when it failed 
to pass the bill before December 31 (reftel). 
BRENNAN