Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SANJOSE444
2008-05-27 21:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy San Jose
Cable title:  

SCENESETTER FOR COMMERCE DAS WALTER BASTIAN'S AND TREASURY

Tags:  CS ECON ETRD PGOV PREL 
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VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSJ #0444/01 1482152
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 272152Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9768
INFO RUEHMU/AMEMBASSY MANAGUA 5323
UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000444 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CEN, WHA/EPSC, WHA/PPC AND EEB
PLEASE PASS TO USTR DOLIVER/AMALITO
PLEASE PASS TO TREASURY SGRAY
MANAGUA FOR DAVID KRZYDA: PLEASE PASS TO DAS BASTIAN AND DAS ONEILL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CS ECON ETRD PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR COMMERCE DAS WALTER BASTIAN'S AND TREASURY
DAS BRIAN O'NEILL'S TRIP TO COSTA RICA

REF: A. SAN JOSE 410

B. 07 SAN JOSE 1926

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000444

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CEN, WHA/EPSC, WHA/PPC AND EEB
PLEASE PASS TO USTR DOLIVER/AMALITO
PLEASE PASS TO TREASURY SGRAY
MANAGUA FOR DAVID KRZYDA: PLEASE PASS TO DAS BASTIAN AND DAS ONEILL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CS ECON ETRD PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR COMMERCE DAS WALTER BASTIAN'S AND TREASURY
DAS BRIAN O'NEILL'S TRIP TO COSTA RICA

REF: A. SAN JOSE 410

B. 07 SAN JOSE 1926


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Embassy San Jose warmly welcomes Commerce DAS
Walter Bastian and Treasury DAS Brian O'Neill. Both visit Costa
Rica as the effort to implement CAFTA progresses through the final
stages of modifying Costa Rican laws to conform to commitments made
under CAFTA. The Arias administration remains deeply committed to
CAFTA, and is slowly making progress. The government's pro-CAFTA
coalition remains fragile. Eight of 13 CAFTA-related bills have
been completed; five others remain in progress, including those
covering controversial intellectual property (IP) and insurance
issues. Apart from the CAFTA debate, the Costa Rican economy
continues to post positive figures: foreign direct investment (FDI)
remains high, tourism numbers have been stable or increasing, and
exports have been growing (now exceeding USD 8 billion). Also in
the backdrop of the all-consuming CAFTA saga are positive reforms
underway within the Ministry of Finance. Treasury's Office of
Technical Assistance (OTA) programs have contributed to the GOCR
increase in tax collections (36 percent in 2007) and an increasingly
more sophisticated approach to budgeting. END SUMMARY.

--------------
THE CAFTA SCORECARD
--------------


2. (U) As of May 27, the national assembly (Asamblea) had completed
over half the CAFTA legislation (eight of 13). A ninth bill (on IPR
reforms) was bounced by the Supreme Court for constitutional
questions (see para 5 below). The four remaining bills (on
modernizing telecommunications, opening the insurance market, making
additional IP changes, and ratification of various standing CAFTA
amendments) are in varying stages of action:

COMPLETED BY ASAMBLEA:
Signed into law: 6
Pending signature: 2

WORKS IN PROGRESS AT THE ASAMBLEA:
Returned by Supreme Court: 1 (Asamblea to correct and vote
again)
Under debate: 4

TOTAL 13


--------------
THE NEVER ENDING CAFTA CHALLENGES
--------------


3. (SBU) The Asamblea made more progress on CAFTA legislation in the
four months from November 2007-February 2008 than its predecessor
had in the previous four years, but momentum dissipated after the
EIF extension was granted. The leaders of the 38-seat pro-CAFTA
coalition well understand the need to keep moving, but have found
this challenging.


4. (SBU) The principal challenge is maintaining and managing the
government-led coalition of 38 members (the G38). This is important
because a two-thirds majority (precisely 38) is needed to form a
quorum, to set rules, and to manage most legislation. Several weeks
ago, Christian Unity Party (PUSC) member Bienvenido Venegas, tried
to parlay his vote into a political trade for more attention and
resources from the central government for his home district
(Puntarenas). Though the GOCR cooperated to a point, Venegas's
support has remained elusive. Now, the Libertarian Movement (ML)
party is challenging the GOCR by delaying action on legislation. ML
has not cooperated with the G38 to grant fast track authority --
needed in order to meet the October deadline -- to the remaining IP
bill and a bill comprised of CAFTA's amendments. The current
impasse prompted Foreign Trade Minister Marco Vinicio Ruiz to
publicly comment on the inaction and state his deep concerns that
the inaction "is counter to the interests of the nation and
achieving FTA approval prior to the October 1 deadline." Privately,
COMEX officials describe a frustrated ML party that desires a higher
profile for its cooperation with the GOCR on CAFTA but feels
short-shrifted. Also, ML may recognize that its ultimate party
fortunes are limited and the current situation best defines a moment
of pivotal power -- and one to exploit -- for the party.


5. (SBU) An ongoing challenge for concluding the CAFTA deal is the
Supreme Court, specifically the Constitutional Chamber (Sala IV),
which reviews most legislation between the required first and second
votes of the Asamblea. The opposition has ensured that all CAFTA
bills are reviewed by the Sala IV, delaying the legislative process,
but only one bill has been bounced for corrections to date. COMEX
and USTR recently met in Costa Rica and discussed changes to the

returned IP bill. Progress was made but discussions between the two
parties will continue the first week of June in Washington. The
Asamblea is to begin action on these corrections as soon as COMEX
completes its modifications to the IP bill in consultation with
USTR.


6. (SBU) Political distractions constitute another challenge. A
special committee has been taking testimony on allegations that the
Colombian FARC had ties to some political figures, including
legislators, in Costa Rica. To date there have been no significant
revelations. Another new focus has been the Arias Administration's
decision to propose two major extraordinary budget items to
reinforce public security in the country and address the issue of
food security.


7. (SBU) Although the political situation may seem totally consumed
by the CAFTA debate, there are horizons beyond CAFTA which pose
still another challenge: changing post-CAFTA political alliances.
Portions of the Arias Administration's likely post-CAFTA agenda are
attractive to the current opposition party, Citizens Action Party
(PAC),and anathema to some members of the current CAFTA coalition
(G38). For example, the Arias Administration has long advocated an
increase in taxes in order to invest in better government and is
currently promoting an extraordinary budget of about $88 million to
promote food production and subsidize food consumption. It appears
likely that the five ML legislators will oppose significant aspects
of these proposals, although at the moment the ML are quasi-members
of the G38. PAC, on the other hand, promotes state-orientated
solutions and is likely to support the administration's post-CAFTA
proposals to some degree. The danger for the GOCR lies in the
transition period when the G38 must be maintained in the face of
potential political re-alignment.

--------------
A COMMITMENT, YES. . .BUT WITH A CAVEAT?
--------------


8. (SBU) Despite these challenges, the Arias Administration remains
committed to completing the legislation and implementing CAFTA.
President Arias (and by implication, his pushing to complete CAFTA)
remains popular. He received a 50 percent good or very good rating
in a UNIMER poll released March 24 with the lowest negative rating
(14 percent) since taking office. The public and most political
parties are tired of the protracted CAFTA debate and want to close
this chapter and move on to other important issues on the horizon.



9. (SBU) The GOCR claims to understand that the extension to October
1 was a one-time exception. Yet, we still sense the hidden
expectation by GOCR that intractable aspects of the remaining
legislation, for example, IP or insurance, might be resolved through
last-minute, high-level political bargaining. This is an
unrealistic expectation on the part of GOCR since USTR is obligated
by its Congressional mandate to implement CAFTA as negotiated and
ratified. In his April visit, AUSTR Eissenstat clearly defined
USTR's mandate in ensuring that the new laws and regulations are
CAFTA compliant (Ref A).

--------------
THE NEAR TERM SIGNIFICANCE OF CAFTA
--------------


10. (U) Without CAFTA, the textile and the tuna sectors are at risk
due to the short-run possibility of the loss of Caribbean Basin
Trade Promotion Act (CBTPA) trade preferences on October 1 and the
long-run risk that Costa Rica will not have permanent, tariff-free
access to the U.S. market. For Costa Rica, both risks would portend
a competitive disadvantage with its CAFTA neighbors. Business
leaders predict 20,000 jobs in the tuna and textile sectors are at
stake.


11. (U) In the intensely competitive textile industry, buyers want
price certainty which Costa Rican companies currently cannot
provide. Indicative of the uncertainty, the industry contracted
from $730 million in 2002 to $557 million in 2006. The Costa Rican
textile industry is heavily reliant on the U.S. market and the
preferential treatment it receives under the CBTPA (Ref B). The
U.S. accounted for 86 percent of its total textile exports in 2006
and CBTPA lowers the U.S. tariff from 18 percent to zero for most
textile products. Thus, without an implemented CAFTA, industry
uncertainty has reached critical levels as producers openly talk
about moving production outside of Costa Rica.

--------------
ARE THERE OTHER ECONOMIC ISSUES?
--------------



12. (U) In spite of the anticipation of a downturn, the Costa Rican
economy continues to post positive economic indicators. The economy
registered 6.8 percent growth in 2007 and is projected to grow by
3.8 percent in 2008. Other highlights include:

- FDI remains high. From 2000 to 2007, FDI grew from $409 million
to an estimated $1,885 million in 2007. The U.S. contributed
roughly 60 percent of FDI in recent years, while the European
Community contributed roughly 15 percent.

- Tourism numbers have been stable or increasing. Annual tourist
visits to Costa Rica doubled in the ten year period from 1998 to
2007 from 943,000 to 1,900,000 (estimated) in 2007. For the first
quarter of 2008, the media reported a 17 percent increase in visits.


- Export totals have been growing. Costa Rica's exports totaled
$8.2 billion in 2006. Costa Rica's economy is relatively open to
world trade, with exports accounting for 37 percent of GDP in that
year. While the traditional agricultural exports of bananas,
coffee, sugar and beef are still the backbone of export trade, a
variety of industrial and specialized agricultural products have
broadened export trade in recent years.


13. (U) On fiscal affairs, the Finance Minister, Guillermo Zuniga,
and the Central Bank President, Francisco de Paula Gutierrez,
demonstrate prudent management of the economy and a commitment to
reform. In 2007, the GOCR experienced its first fiscal surplus in
50 years. Plus, the Finance Ministry (the Hacienda) has initiated
several new reforms through the assistance of Treasury's OTA.
Problematic is the lack of a terrorist finance law in Costa Rica --
one of many bills in the queue behind CAFTA legislation and key to
Costa Rica's future participation in the Egmont Group -- and the
lack of regulatory oversight of international transactions with
specific regard to money laundering.


14. (U) Currently, the OTA operates three programs in Costa Rica of
which two -- tax administration and budget -- are well underway and
a third, debt management, just launched in February 2008. Both of
the established OTA programs have contributed to instituting
reforms. All three are summarized below:

- The OTA's tax administration project started in spring of 2005.
The OTA interacted mainly with the Internal Revenue Directorate, but
has also engaged at the Ministerial level and in Customs
Administration. The project has primarily focused on improving
planning and management and technical and management assistance
which resulted in the improvement of collections (up 36 percent in
2007) and audit and taxpayer assistance operations. At the Ministry
level, work is underway to assist the implementation of an Internal
Affairs organization through which to investigate allegations of
misconduct and corruption by Ministry officials. Finally, the OTA
will provide an independent source of advice and managerial
monitoring for a major private initiative to modernize the
technology infrastructure of tax administration. The OTA project is
scheduled to conclude in the fall of 2008.

- Finance Minister Zuniga requested OTA technical assistance in the
areas of budget policy and management. Supported by Embassy San
Jose and commencing in December 2006, the OTA's work has resulted in
key reforms, including the implementation of a medium term budget
forecast for the GOCR. The budget project also improved the quality
and quantity of information available to decision-makers and
constituents regarding the effectiveness of GOCR programs in
utilizing budget resources to meet Government objectives. The OTA
has provided support in the areas of budget execution, audit, and
control. The budget policy and management technical assistance
program is scheduled to conclude in late-2008.

- The OTA and the Hacienda launched the Government Debt Issuance and
Management Assistance (GDIM) project February 2008. The project
will provide technical assistance in debt management, focusing on
staff capacity building; risk analysis and management; cash flow
forecasting; debt sustainability; domestic market development
(institutional and retail) for government and central bank
obligations; and fiscal/monetary policy and operations coordination.
The initial work has focused on improving the secondary market for
government securities since Costa Rican wholesale financial markets
are virtually non-existent. This effort will also support the
Central Bank as it makes the difficult transition to a more flexible
exchange-rate and an inflation-targeting regime which will require
the creation of new markets for managing system liquidity.

BRENNAN