The United States isn't providing Latin American countries with democratic free trade agreements, said former Costa Rican presidential candidate and UF visiting lecturer Ottón Solís in a lecture held in Emerson Alumni Hall on Wednesday.
In front of about 150 people, Solís, founder of Costa Rica's Citizens Action Party, labeled U.S. free trade agreements as undemocratic deals that allow for multinational corporations to take over the private sector and influence area governments. He said Costa Rica recently rejected a free trade agreement with the U.S. that may have allowed the weapons market to expand, which was worrisome to the Costa Rican government because they do not have an army.
Solís said Latin American legislators are also to blame for accepting agreements with regulations identical to those provided to powerhouse countries like China. He cited Mexico as a loser in trade agreements due to its slow rate of economic growth.
"The U.S. is doing what any country with power would do to protect its interests. The problem is with our legislators and leaders," Solís said. The Bacardi Family Eminent Scholar Chair is an endowment granted to UF, which allows the Center for Latin American Studies to invite distinguished scholars to lecture and teach.
Solís is the 2008 Bacardi Eminent Scholar at the UF Center for Latin American Studies and is teaching a graduate seminar and conducting research on the impact of free trade agreements on democracy and development.
