The center-left candidate, Luis Guillermo Solís, would review the conditions to join the block if he wins on April 6th.
The presidential candidate of the Partido Acción Ciudadana, Luis Guillermo Solís, agrees with the industrial sector on the process of tariff reduction that Costa Rica would have to make in order to join the Pacific Alliance involves risks that should be considered carefully.
The Chamber of Industry perceives an "unusual secrecy" in progress toward an agreement that may seriously compromise the competitiveness of the sector.
The Chamber of Industries of Costa Rica (ICRC) has asked the Government to explain the scope of commitments made with the signing of the adherence to the Pacific Alliance.
From a press release issued by the Chamber of Industries of Costa Rica:
Colombia, Peru, Chile and Mexico approved the inclusion of Costa Rica to the Partnership Framework Agreement, the first step towards total integration into the block.
From a press release issued by the Presidency of Costa Rica:
Under the VIII Summit of Heads of State of the Pacific Alliance, the President of the Republic, Laura Chinchilla Miranda, along with her counterparts in Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos Calderón, Chile, Sebastián Piñera Echenique, Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto and Peru, Ollanta Humala Tasso signed a Declaration on the Accession of Costa Rica to the Pacific Alliance.
The Pacific Alliance has become the largest market in Latin America and an attractive investment for companies in third party countries who want to use it.
"In 2012, the Gross Domestic Product of the Pacific Partnership (AP by its initials in Spanish) grew by 5%, two points higher than that recorded by the global economy. FDI remained at an acceptable rhythm, with $71.045 billion, of which over $30 billion was destined for Chile.
The group of countries that Costa Rica, Panama and others in the region want to join, will next week sign in the immediate elimination of tariffs on 92% of trade goods.
The protocol on tax relief for 92% of goods traded between the countries of the Pacific Alliance will be signed next week at a summit to be held at Cartagena de Indias, confirmed the Colombian president, Juan Manuel Santos.
The negotiations ended with important progress, although key issues such as banana continue to be stuck.
La Tribuna reports on its website: "In general there has been progress in the negotiations. However, a lot is being negotiated. There is progress, however, negotiations on issues such as banana have not been completed," the Guatemalan vice minister of Foreign Trade, Ruben Morales, at a press conference held at the end of five days of negotiations."
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.