The vagueness of the Solis administration regarding the integration of Costa Rica into the Pacific Alliance has provoked negative reactions from business associations.
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
EDITORIAL
The country's entry into the Commercial alliance composed of Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru would represent a very important change for the economy of Costa Rica, a change that sectors producing goods and services would have to integrate into their strategic plans, which is why they need clear signals regarding what will happen.
However, the current government of Costa Rica has shown itself to be disturbingly indecisive, perhaps as a result of the fracture that the issue caused to the internal section of the ideologically dispersed Solis administration.
While the Minister of Foreign Trade advocates following the line of trade liberalization initiated by the country at the beginning of this century, and has consequently called for adherence to the Pacific Alliance, the posture of other ministries is one of commercial isolationism and protection of local producers at all costs, such as the position of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.
Beyond the positions of each productive sector on Costa Rica's entry into to the Pacific Alliance, determined by their calculations of profits and loss if this entry comes about or not, they all have in common the need for certainty on the subject.
Yes or no, the Solis administration must now decide on Costa Rica's entry into the Pacific Alliance.
¿Busca soluciones de inteligencia comercial para su empresa?
After two years of government, the Solis administration remains indecisive and has still not resolved this vital issue, which even though it is opposed by several productive sectors of the country, needs urgent resolution.
The country's entry into the commercial alliance composed of Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru would represent a very significant change for the economy of Costa Rica, a change that sectors producing goods and services would have to integrate into their strategic plans, which is why they need clear signals regarding the direction to be taken.
The government is waiting for more technical studies and analyzing the effects it would have on local production if entry of goods and services from Chile, Peru, Mexico and Colombia were fully liberalized .
Although the previous Chinchilla administration had taken firm steps to join the trade bloc, the current President Solis, has cooled down the process, which in order to continue must wait for the Ministry of Foreign Trade to complete further studies on commercial sensitivity, and later present them for public consultation.
Within the Economic Council of Government Luis Guillermo Solís' ministers are divided with some favoring openness to international trade, and others wanting to protect vulnerable sectors.
The Ministry of Foreign Trade, which is in favor of accession, argues that there are free trade agreements with member countries of the Alliance, meaning that they would only be strengthening commercial ties.
Making it clear that their international trade policies will be more protectionist than those of previous governments, the Solis administration has poured cold water on the accession to the group formed by Mexico, Colombia, Peru and Chile.
Editorial
This theme marks the differences within the government of President Luis Guillermo Solis.
×
7974Government Procurement Opportunities in the region
español
7974
