In Costa Rica, the Commission to Promote Competition stated that they do not agree with any type of exclusivity in the emergency medical insurance market for inbound tourism.
The Commission recommends not to allow initiatives that establish as a mandatory requirement for travelers, a medical insurance for inbound tourism, as it could detract from the country's competitiveness and increase the cost of traveling to Costa Rica.
After Grupo Lala decided to close the operations of its dairy production plant in Costa Rica, a debate began over whether Dos Pinos' dominance in the local market was due to protectionist policies or to the brand positioning, quality and price of its products.
Due to weak competition in the local market, the prices of goods and services in the basic basket are significantly higher in Costa Rica than in nearby countries.
A report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), called the "Economic Study on Costa Rica", concludes that consumers in the country pay higher prices for milk, rice, vehicles and Internet services.
The initiatives of Competition, Leasing and the reforms to the General Law of Telecoms are some of the projects that the new administration of Giammattei plans to present to the Congress of Guatemala.
During his inaugural speech, the new president of Guatemala gave the first guidelines in the economic field, highlighting which projects should be streamlined in the Legislative.
In Costa Rica, a bill is in progress that contemplates eliminating fines for the first member of a cartel that recognizes and denounces to the authorities that has engaged in monopolistic practices.
As part of the bills for Costa Rica's entry into the OECD, deputies voted in second debate file No. 21.303, Law strengthening the competition authorities of Costa Rica, reported last August 29 the Legislative Assembly.
The lack of a competition law in Guatemala could expose the country to sanctions from the European authorities, since it is a requirement demanded in the regulations of the Association Agreement with the European Union.
Since the end of 2016, the Association Agreement (AdA) required Guatemala to have a law on the matter, since in 2019 a Central American competition authority would have to be created.
Seven years after Cofasa filed a monopoly complaint against Fischel, in Costa Rica the Commission for the Promotion of Competition decided to impose a fine of almost $19 million on the pharmacy chain.
Representatives of the Commission for the Promotion of Competition (Coprocom), informed that the fine imposed on Fischel is provisional, since the resolution is in the appeals phase, so it is not final and cannot be released figures or other aspects of the ruling.
Authorities in Costa Rica confirmed their judgment against Walmart's request to buy the supermarket chain Gessa, ending the case through administrative channels.
At the beginning of December 2018, the Commission for the Promotion of Competition (Coprocom) denied Walmart the request to purchase the Gessa group. Days later, the two companies involved in the transaction filed two appeals to overturn the decision.
In response to the brake placed by the Commission for the Promotion of Competition on the purchase of Gessa by Walmart, in Costa Rica both companies presented two independent appeals that seek to revoke the blockade of the transaction.
Last week, the Commission for the Promotion of Competition (Coprocom) denied Walmart the purchase request of the supermarket group Gessa, and just days later, on December 10th, the two companies participating in the transaction filed two appeals to overturn the judgment.
Arguing that there are risks that the economic agent will affect market prices, in Costa Rica the Commission for the Promotion of Competition denied Walmart the request to purchase the supermarket group Gessa.
Representatives of the Commission for the Promotion of Competition (Coprocom) informed that the decision was taken unanimously on December 4th and the parties were notified the following day.
After making more than 40 amendments to the previous project, the legislative commission will be presenting a proposal and expects the process to move forward without further modifications.
The Economy Commission of the Congress of the Republic reported that they presented a second opinion on the Competition Law initiative, and took the opportunity to explain that among the parties that participated in the work room, they agreed that the topic will be addressed in a single reading and no last minute amendments will be presented.
With the declaration of effective competition in the mobile telecommunications market it is expected a reduction in prices and an increase in the commercial supply offered by operators.
Mobile telephony and mobile internet services are now free from tariff regulation by the Superintendence of Telecommunications (Sutel).The entity declared effective competition in this segment of the telecommunications marketon September 18.
In El Salvador reform of legislation on passenger transport has been proposed to "incorporate business models based on new telecommunications technologies."
From a report by the Superintendency of Competition in El Salvador:
The Board of Directors of theSuperintendency of Competition(CD) issued an opinion on land transport regulations, in relation to the provision of passenger transport services required by users through the use of digital platforms.
There still remains tasks to be completed in the process of preparing to compete with milk and dairy products, which in 2025 will start to enter the country duty-free under the CAFTA.
In regards to how to prepare for the next market opening, José Antonio Madriz, President of the National Chamber of Milk Producers, told Nacion.com that there still remains work to be done, and that they"... have approached the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) several times, as lead agency, to establish joint plans between the private sector, government, universities and other research centers, but the result is insufficient."
In the early years of the real market opening for cell lines, the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad lost 518,000 customers to the hands of private companies.
Since number portability became effective on November 30, 2013, there have been 782,000 changeovers, according to figures from the Sutel requested by Nacion.com.That figure represents 10% of the 7.5 million mobile phone lines registered in December 2015.
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