US embassy cable - 04TEGUCIGALPA1259

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001259 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT. FOR WHA/PD; IIP/G/WHA DIPASQUALE; AND IIP/T/ES 
DEPT. FOR EB/TPP DCLUNE AND WHA/CEN 
DEPT. PASS USTR FOR JWOLFE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, KPAO, ETRD, HO, USTR 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON CAFTA, JUNE 1, 2004 
 
 
1. Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based moderate daily "El 
Heraldo" on 5/29 entitled "Towards an uncertain future." 
"CAFTA took a step ahead after being signed by the Central 
American trade ministers and the U.S. Trade Representative, 
even though it has an uncertain future because it depends on 
the results of the upcoming U.S. elections in which 
President Bush attempts to be reelected." 
 
"It's expected that CAFTA will be ratified without much 
complications in Central America, although it may have some 
difficulties in El Salvador and Costa Rica.  Its main 
problem will be to pass the U.S. Congress, when President 
Bush presents it, if he gets reelected.  Although the U.S. 
presents itself as a promoter of free trade, left and right 
wing groups have agreed to oppose CAFTA, mainly because they 
fear it would increase unemployment up North." 
 
"Perhaps the closer relationship between Latin America with 
Europe, and even with China, might convince the Americans 
that the snow ball they created themselves has grown too 
much for them to try to stop it." 
 
Palmer