It was one of the most controversial trade agreements ever tackled on Capitol Hill. And despite an expected January implementation date, only one Central American country has been approved for implementation of the Central American Free Trade Agreement.
El Salvador is on board. U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman expects Nicaragua and Honduras to be on board soon, he hopes "by the end of this month."
Costa Rica is the only country that has yet to ratify the accord. "We're hopeful that ratification can also occur relatively quickly with a President Arias' victory," he says.