No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsArts and CultureWhat Does the Documentary “Costa Rica, S.A.” Claim?

What Does the Documentary “Costa Rica, S.A.” Claim?

The documentary “Costa Rica, S.A.” – the Spanish equivalent of “Costa Rica, Inc.” – is an hour and 40 minutes long and has aired five times on the public University of Costa Rica (UCR)-sponsored TV Channel 15, with the most recent presentation taking place last week. Apparently influenced by the style of U.S. filmmaker Michael Moore, director and UCR professor Pablo Ortega illustrates “what they don’t tell you about CAFTA” using humorous and sometimes jarring film, news and cartoon clips, sound effects, excerpts from the agreement and commentary from economists, business owners, union members and others.

The film takes a detailed look at some of the commonly heard arguments against CAFTA, including how the agreement would affect Costa Rica’s sovereignty, employment, social services, pharmaceutical prices and the environment. It also examines what it claims were the pressure tactics employed by the United States on Costa Rica, along with the other signatory countries – Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.

Following is a summary of some of its principal arguments:

*The documentary argues that CAFTA is a “false” free-trade agreement, citing its length and complicated provisions, and  stating that U.S. agricultural subsidies under the 2002 Farm Bill create an uneven playing field for Costa Rican producers.

*The film maintains that CAFTA would make Costa Rica “part of the international production of arms” and includes provisions for the trade of weapons. Former Foreign Trade Vice-Minister Amparo Pacheco denied this in a letter distributed by pro-CAFTA group Por Costa Rica. She stated the only change the pact would make is to eliminate import taxes on permitted firearms such as pistols and revolvers.

The film argues that the agreement threatens Costa Rican sovereignty and even its marine territory. Former Trade Minister Alberto Trejos told The Tico Times that if any agreement contradicted Costa Rica’s Constitution or territorial rights, the Constitution itself would not allow it to take effect.

It criticizes the “secrecy” with which the negotiations were conducted. Amparo Pacheco’s letter states that the negotiators presented 10 documents to the public regarding the process and held 289 meetings with 900 businesses and other groups. However, the actual negotiations were indeed closed to the press.

The film’s humor continues through the final credits, which assure the viewer that “No neoliberals were harmed in the making of this film.”

Trending Now

Costa Rica’s Rare Birds at Risk as Human Activity Threatens Extinction

Costa Rica’s bare-necked umbrellabird, a striking black bird with a red throat pouch and crest, is in trouble. A new study in Nature Ecology...

El Salvador Slams Paris Fashion Show Inspired by Cecot Mega-Prison Inmates

The president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, joked on Saturday that he could send inmates from his mega-prison to France, after they were represented...

A Costa Rica Love Story: From Rustic Cabina to Separate Dreams

My Tica wife and I have been together for over a quarter century. When we met, I was living a simple life here. Three...

Costa Rica’s Pride 2025 Closing Event Bans Minors, Sparks Outrage

Costa Rica’s Pride 2025 closing event, set for June 29 at San José’s Plaza de la Democracia, was thrown into controversy when the government...

Costa Rica’s Top Court Bans President Chaves from 2026 Election Campaign

Costa Rica’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal on Thursday barred President Rodrigo Chaves from participating in the 2026 election campaign, ruling that he "illegitimately used" his...

Costa Rica’s Piangua Mollusk Threatened by Pineapple Farm Runoff

Costa Rica’s Térraba-Sierpe National Wetland, a 33,000-hectare haven of mangroves and rivers, is under siege from an unlikely source: pineapple farms. A study by...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica