As part of the FTA signed between the two countries, since January 1, 2020 beef and pork from the U.S. do not pay tariffs or taxes on entry into Costa Rica.
According to the Free Trade Agreement signed, the relief of beef and pork will be valid for 15 years, while the so-called black parts of the chicken, such as thighs and others, will be released until January 1, 2022, in this case for the term of 17 years.
An increased supply of imported pork has caused a general price reduction and increased annual per capita consumption by two kilos.
Demand for pork in Costa Rica increased from 11 kilograms (kg) per capita in 2014 to 13 kg per capita in 2015, according to figures from the Costa Rican Chamber of Pork Producers (Caporc) cited by Nacion.com.
There is an urgent need to improve livestock production methods in order for Central American to face the impending competition from North American livestock farming.
The possible entry of U.S. beef into Central America is worrying Nicaraguan meat exporters who continue to produce in the same way as they did 200 years ago.
"It is important to introduce livestock, we are producing in almost the same way as we did 200 years ago, this is happening because of the loss of competitiveness of Central America in meat exports," said Juan Sebastian Chamorro, president of the Nicaraguan Chamber of Beef Exporters (Canicarne).
The Agriculture Ministry of Costa Rica announced it will impede the entrance of meat from Uruguay, arguing sanitary risks.
However, in contradictory statements, Gerardo Vicente, director of the Costa Rican Animal Health Service (Service), expressed that studies analyzing Uruguayan meat exports have not discovered any problems with the product, and they could not foresee the need for a future health barrier.