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29 Nov 2005 |
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Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, November 29, 2005
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Costa Rica Reacts to New
European Banana Trade Rules
European Union ministers were expected yesterday to finalize a newly proposed tariff of 176 euros ($207) per metric ton of Latin American banana exports, a decision that has not been well received in Costa Rica. The Tico Times was not able to confirm by press time whether this finalization had taken place.
(Click for more)
Human Rights Court to
Hear Arguments
On
Brazilian Children's Prison
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights, based in San José, will hold a public hearing today for a case against Brazilian government for alleged deaths, torture and injury to the child and adolescent inmates of the Tataupe Complex, a juvenile prison.
(Click for more)
2006 Budget Approved
In First Debate Without a Vote
Costa Rican legislators Sunday approved the $5.6 billion, 2006 national budget automatically and without voting, due to a lack of quorum.
(Click for more)
November 29
Concerts by Duo Vargas
Piano by four hands, works from Argentina, Uruguay, Cuba, Mexico, Brazil, and Costa Rica, tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Eugene O'Neill Theater, Barrio Dent.
Ibiza Nights
With DJ Turco, Tuesdays, 8 p.m., at Caccio's, 200 m east, 25 m north of San Pedro Church.
Edited By María Gabriela Díaz
Tico Times Staff
mgdiaz@ticotimes.net
Costa Rica Reacts to New
European Banana Trade Rules
By Leland Baxter-Neal
Tico Times Staff
lbaxter@ticotimes.net
European Union ministers were expected yesterday to finalize a newly proposed tariff of 176 euros ($207) per metric ton of Latin American banana exports, a decision that has not been well received in Costa Rica. The Tico Times was not able to confirm by press time whether this finalization had taken place.
In addition to the new tariff, the European Union announced it would be eliminating the mandatory licenses for exporters. Trade Minister Manuel González qualified this decision as “historic” in the 12-year conflict over Latin American banana exports to Europe, and said it will allow easier access to the European market for producers.
However, González rejected the new tariff as too high and said the issue will be taken to the next round of world trade talks to be held in Hong Kong Dec.13-18.
“This is not acceptable for ( Latin America ). In the context of the Doha Round of (World Trade Organization) negotiations, and in the context of the negotiations on agriculture in particular, we are going to continue to insist on lowering this tariff,” González said.
This is the third proposal the European Union has made for a new tariff as it prepares to make the transition to a new, tariff-only trade system. The current system is a combination of tariffs and quotas, and exporters must have a license to sell to the European market. The new regimen will take effect Jan. 1, 2006.
Previously proposed tariffs of 230 euros ($225) and 186 euros ($283) per metric ton of bananas were both rejected by World Trade Organization arbitrations because they would not allow Latin American countries the same access to the European market they currently enjoy (TT, Nov. 4). Latin American banana producers now pay an import tax of 75 euros ($92) per metric ton of bananas they export to the European Union.
See Friday's print or online pdf edition of The Tico Times for more on the European Union's decision.
Human Rights Court to Hear Arguments
On Brazilian Children's Prison
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights, based in San José, will hold a public hearing today for a case against Brazilian government for alleged deaths, torture and injury to the child and adolescent inmates of the Tataupe Complex, a juvenile prison.
The court will hear the arguments of the Inter-American Human Rights Commission, based in Washington, D.C. ; the beneficiaries of provisional measures taken; and the representatives of the state of Brazil.
The court resolved Nov. 17 that Brazil must adopt certain provisional measures to protect the lives and personal integrity of the children in the complex, located in Sao Paulo, and at the same time decided to hold this hearing.
That decision came in response to the commission's Nov. 8 request that Brazil take measures to protect the children in the prison. The child inmates are allegedly at risk for riots, torture and death.
The commission made earlier recommendations for cautionary measures on Dec. 21, 2004, but charged later that the resulting measures were not effective.
-- ACAN-EFE
2006 Budget Approved
In First Debate Without a Vote
Costa Rican legislators Sunday approved the $5.6 billion, 2006 national budget automatically and without voting, due to a lack of quorum.
A Legislative Assembly press release yesterday explained that a special session was held on Sunday because it was the last day, by law, on which the legislators could approve the bill in first debate. The second debate will be held today.
After being approved in second debate, the bill must be analyzed by the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Sala IV) to check for constitutional inconsistencies, and then must be approved by President Abel Pacheco.
For the legislative session, 39 of 57 legislators showed up, one more than the minimum required to approve the budget; however, two of the legislators did not return in time following a recess, thereby breaking quorum, and the bill was approved without a vote.
When there is no quorum, and the time limit to approve a law has expired, Costa Rican legislation allows, in certain cases, for legislators to approve a bill automatically, without voting.
The legislators who did not return in time to vote – Ricardo Toledo and Rodolfo Delgado, both of the ruling Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC) –
failed to do so because they were “looking for documents,” they said.
Federico Malavassi, legislator from the Libertarian Movement Party, told the daily La Nación that the disappearance of Toledo and Delgado was a “tactic” to get the budget approved despite a lack of votes.
Legislators from the Libertarian Movement Party, the Citizen Action Party (PAC) and the Patriotic Bloc opposed the budget with a total of 14 votes amongst them.
-- ACAN-EFE
