This was announced by the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Costa Rica during the recent visit of his Chinese counterpart. It is expected for protocols to be signed during the official visit of Chinese officials next June.

"Costa Rica is also very interested in dealing with China's protocols for poultry and pork." Stated an article in La Nacion, "With regards to the two protocols, Chinese officials asked to approach them one at a time..."

Source: Nacion.com

More on this topic

Costa Rica Closes FTA with China

February 2010

China granted Costa Rica immediate, tariff free access for the products which compose 99.6% of the value of Costa Rican exports (A Category).

For 0.10%, tariffs will be waived gradually (B Category), 0.19% in 10 years (C Category), 0.05% in 15 years (D Category), and just 0.01% will continue paying the current tariff.

Costa Rican Meat Requests Access to China

November 2009

This was announced in the fifth negotiation round for a Free Trade Agreement between both countries.

Costa Rica's negotiators requested immediate, tariff free entrance for chicken, beef and pork.

Fernando Ocampo, Costa Rican chief negotiator, remarked that "... getting access to China for our meats will be difficult, but we will insist.

Costa Rica: Few Exclusions in China FTA

September 2009

The country would request excluding products from the Free Trade Agreement only in very justifiable cases.

Local industrialists requested to exclude products which already have no tariff and are not produced in the country. In response, Commerce Minister Marco Vinicio Ruiz argued that it's very complicated to explain the Chinese as to why such exclusions.

Quick progress at Costa Rica - China FTA round of negotiations

January 2009

The countries agreed to immediately eliminate tariffs for a certain group of products when the FTA comes into effect and established a term of 5 or 10 years for others.

Nacion.com reports on its website: "The fourth segment or 'basket' of products will be the most difficult to negotiate. In this case terms greater than 10 years will be established, or quotas or contingencies or other possibilities on a case by case basis.