A recent announcement by the Agro-Industrial Sugar Cane League with regards to intentions of increasing domestic price of sugar, prompted the Costa Rican Food Industry (CACIA) to react immediately, believing that it is wrong and inappropriate to change the local price only when international price rises, problem caused by protective tariffs granted by the Government.

For this reason, food companies requested members of the legislature to paralyze and immediately reject approval of trade agreements already negotiated with China, Singapore and Europe, since this distortion reduces competitiveness required to exploit this type of agreement, while the processed food market has opened itself to global competition.

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Protectionists Back to the Burden

July 2019

Arguing that local production must be protected, Costa Rican sugar manufacturers demand that, in addition to the 45% common levy already charged on imported sugar, an additional tariff must be imposed.

The request was made by Liga Agricola Industrial de la Caña de Azucar (Laica) to the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC), as businessmen claim that there is an exponential growth in sugar imports in recent years, which has put in check the Costa Rican sugar cane sector.

Sugar: Free Trade Loses A Battle

November 2015

In Costa Rica the virtually monopolistic Industrial Sugar Cane Agricultural League is supporting a recent decree that protects blocking imports of sugar by forcing sugar fortification to be done it its place of origin.

EDITORIAL

A statement issued by the Industrial Sugarcane Agricultural League (LAICA) abounds in views on the relevance of sugar fortification -which nobody questions-, and on the supposed benefits that the company brings to the Costa Rican consumers, including " stable prices. "

Costa Rica: Food Industry Complains about Sugar Monopoly

February 2011

The Costa Rican Food Industry Chamber called for the withdrawal of a 45% tariff protecting sugar.

The Chamber calls for the removal of all distortions present in the market of food raw materials, of which sugar is one of the most important and widely used. Marco Cercone, president of the Chamber, noted that the monopoly has raised prices up 22%, and said increase makes it impossible for the food industry to compete, taking its highest toll among small and medium companies.

Costa Rica: Sugar Industry Confident with China FTA

November 2009

Sugar growers are confident they will obtain access to China's market.

This is the opinion of Edgar Herrera, executive director of the Sugar Cane League, who also said that they "... are used to be one of the last negotiated items in Free Trade Agreements, as it is usually a sensitive product".