Although both parties have expressed interest in renewing the agreement negotiations have been stalled since May.
The parties have opposing positions and this led to the current situation where no agreement has been reached. The renegotiations were started in late 2011, as the treaty did not include modern standards regarding services and conflict resolution.
Costa Rican agricultural employers are demanding from the state better management of FTAs that ensure reciprocity in the application of sanitary and phytosanitary rules.
There is no agreement between the arguments given by the government authorities and demands posed by members of the National Chamber of Agriculture and Agribusiness (CNAA).
According to the Ministry of Foreign Trade, agriculture is one of the sectors that most benefits from the free trade agreements negotiated. On this issue, the Deputy Minister Fernando Ocampo told Nacion.com, "that the administration of the treaties is far more complex than it sounds and involves multiple entities, with the aim of reducing costs for exporters and importers therefore improving competitiveness."
Agricultural producers have pointed out that the Colombian economy is in direct competition with the Costa Rican one in terms of production, and they see no profit in a trade agreement.
The agricultural and agribusiness sectors of Costa Rica joined the national industrial sector in opposing a possible FTA with Colombia because of its economy’s highly competitive position in relation to Costa Rica.