The difficulties affecting intraregional land trade are increasing, since arguing that it is trying to mitigate the spread of covid-19, the Costa Rican presidency decided that as of May 18 only transporters who make direct transit from border to border would enter Costa Rican territory, whose units must be subject to police surveillance.

The business and transport associations in Central America were quick to protest against the measure and put pressure on the Alvarado administration to retract it.

In this context, Costa Rican authorities reported that certain controls were analyzed to be implemented to minimize the risk of infection by covid-19. Among these, it is important to speed up border procedures in order to minimize waiting times for transporters in the border area and to monitor trucks by means of GPS, which allows for the supervision of programmed routes and the time of the transporters in the country.

Given the restrictions, Honduras responded to Costa Rica's unilateral decision, since as of May 25, Costa Rican carriers will only have 72 hours to unload and load the goods.

According to Laprensa.hn, the decision taken by the Honduran authorities came after the Ministry of Economic Development requested "... to apply the principle of reciprocity to Costa Rica's unilateral decision of May 18."

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Source: laprensa.hn

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Cargo Transport: Nicaragua Relaxes Measures

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The measures imposed on heavy transport in the region have gradually been relaxed. The difficulties began when Costa Rica, arguing that it was trying to mitigate the outbreak of covid-19, unilaterally decided that as of 18 May only carriers carrying out direct border-to-border transit would enter Costa Rican territory, whose units would have to be subject to police surveillance. 

Regional Trade: Panama Applies Reciprocal Measures

May 2020

After Costa Rica imposed several restrictions on the movement of cargo entering its territory, the Panamanian government limited the permit for Costa Rican carriers to remain in the country to 72 hours.

The transit of goods in the region is becoming more complicated every day, since it is argued that the propagation of the covid-19 is being mitigated.

Cargo Transport: Costa Rica Tightens Restrictions

May 2020

In order to mitigate the spread of the covid-19, the government decided that as of May 18, only transporters that make direct transit from border to border will enter Costa Rican territory, whose units must be subject to police surveillance.

On 15 May, President Carlos Alvarado issued two decrees aimed at keeping the number of foreign transporters in the country as low as possible, reported the Costa Rican presidency.