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With the goal of expanding the breadth of commercial opportunities between Costa Rica and China, negotiators with the two partners met last week in Shanghai — China’s largest trade, financial and business center — to begin the second round of negotiations toward the establishment of a bilateral
free trade agreement.
The inaugural session was attended by Costa Rican Agriculture Minister Javier Flores and Chinese Trade Vice Minister Qiu Hong. Both officials spoke about their expectations for this negotiation process. Vice Minister Qiu highlighted the importance of the trade deal as an opportunity to deepen economic and commercial cooperation between China and Costa Rica. The official said that this agreement will become a mechanism for both countries to face together
the challenges of the global economic crisis — as it will provide a tool to guarantee stability, transparency and forecasting to trade between the two nations, which are expected to give each other a more favorable treatment that that given to World Trade Organization (WTO) partners.
Meanwhile, Minister Flores indicated that the Costa Rican agricultural sector has high expectations for this negotiation process, particularly regarding the increase of bilateral trade free of tariffs and other barriers that could be developed following all technical, sanitary, phytosanitary and origin-related standards that would boost the transparent exchange between the two countries. Costa Rica is also looking forward to an increase in foreign investment through new businesses linkages; cooperation regarding technology, innovation, research and human capital formation — all areas in which China has assumed a leadership role and which could greatly benefit Costa Rica.
Also attending the inaugural session in Shanghai was a Costa Rican delegation that included functionaries from the foreign trade, treasury, justice, planning and agriculture ministries, as well as representatives from Costa Rican businesses and industries (particularly agriculture). Costa Rica’s chief negotiator, Fernando Ocampo, underscored the importance of having these industry representatives participate during this second round of negotiations. He also spoke about the camaraderie between the two negotiation teams, which he believes will lead to important advances during this round.
Foreign Trade Minister Marco Vinicio Ruiz said he was pleased with the growing interest and support regarding this trade agreement. He also insisted it is very important that the country’s production sectors continue taking part in the consultation process and sector workshops that the Costa Rican government
has been organizing with respect to the China trade deal.