Trade agreement reached with four nations

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Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2003 | 9:12 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Overcoming a last-minute snag on textiles, the United States reached a free trade agreement today with four Central American countries.

Negotiators reached agreement in all areas, including textiles and agriculture, according to a U.S. official, who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The countries that completed the negotiations were Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras.

A fifth nation, Costa Rica, abruptly left the talks on Tuesday complaining about excessive demands being made by the United States for the nation to open up its market to foreign competition in telecommunications and insurance.