By Mike Boyer
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Negotiators for the United States and five Central American countries wrapped up a week of trade talks in Cincinnati on Friday, saying they're optimistic that they can complete a comprehensive free trade agreement by December.

"We're confident it can be completed this year, but we know we have a lot of work,'' Regina Vargo, chief U.S. negotiator, said at a news conference wrapping up the second of nine negotiating sessions leading to a Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).

She echoed comments from the lead negotiators from the five Central American countries - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua - who completed the first U.S. round in the talks. Discussions started in Costa Rica in January.

"We feel confident it is achievable,'' said Anabel Gonzalez, Costa Rica's special ambassador for U.S. trade affairs.

Most of the week's work was an exchange of proposals on issues such as customs procedures, investment services and market access, the negotiators said.

The negotiators wouldn't discuss what, if any, agreements had been reached.

"It was a most productive week with a fruitful exchange of opinions and preliminary points of view on many issues,'' Gonzalez said.

The private negotiations, at the Millennium Hotel in downtown Cincinnati, have been the target of picketing by activists.

The protesters have objected, among other things, to the talks being held in private, saying human rights and the environment in the represented countries could be affected.

Vargo, in a news briefing earlier in the week, said the government has advisers representing varied points of view, has had public hearings and consultations with members of Congress.

She said the talks this week involved 250 officials from all six countries, and public talks wouldn't be practical.

The parties won't get around to exchanging proposals on eliminating tariffs until the fourth negotiating round, in the spring.

In response to a Central American journalist's question, Vargo said the U.S. did not present a list of sensitive agricultural products that it was interested in protecting. Protection of farm products is expected to be a contentious issue.

She said the United States expects to present a comprehensive proposal on tariffs during the fourth round of talks.

CAFTA would be similar to the North American Free Trade Agreement among the United States, Mexico and Canada and would serve as a step toward a much broader Free Trade Agreement for the Americas encompassing the entire Western Hemisphere, excluding Cuba.

But Vargo and the other negotiators said CAFTA won't be just a carbon copy of NAFTA.

She said it will include updated approaches to issues such as intellectual property, copyright and patent protection.

The next session is scheduled to begin March 31 in San Salvador, El Salvador. The next U.S. round is scheduled for July in an undetermined city.

E-mail mboyer@enquirer.com