TIA applauds USTR on concluding CAFTA with Costa Rica.(Top News)(U.S. Trade Representative)(Central American Free Trade Agreement)(Telecommunications Industry Association)

Latin America Telecom, February, 2004

U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Zoellick and his negotiating team recently concluded Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) discussions with Costa Rica. The agreement marks a significant step for Costa Rica in the reform of its state-owned telecommunications sector.

Costa Rica has agreed to market access liberalization in three key areas--Internet services, private data networks and wireless services. Costa Rica will implement its commitments in the first two areas by January 1, 2006, the date by which the country also agreed to implement a comprehensive package of regulatory principles for these two areas. It will take an additional year--January 1, 2007--for the country to open its wireless market to competition.

"Given the...

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