Panama and Costa Rica meet to clarify trade obstacles
Representatives of Panama and Costa Rica saw each other for the first time since the neighboring country opened a process in the World Trade Organization (WTO), where it denounced that the Panamanian government had imposed restrictions on a variety of Costa Rican products such as milk, strawberry, plantain, banana, fish food, among others.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industries reported that the meeting was held in Paso Canoas, Chiriquí province, with a view to finding possible ways of solving the differences that have arisen in relation to bilateral trade.
According to the Costa Rican newspaper La Nación, the Vice Minister of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica, Duayner Salas, indicated that the main interest is to address the concerns that Costa Rica has expressed regarding restrictions on access to the Panamanian market.
The Costa Rican authorities indicate that the decision taken by Panama is affecting 26 industrial plants.
According to the information provided to the WTO, Costa Rica assures that Panama's decision not to renew permits for its plants is incompatible with 14 articles of the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.
The president of the Panamanian Association of Exporters, Roberto Tribaldos, comments that Costa Rica has had imports from Panamanian plants blocked since 2011, despite the fact that the government has sent the information requested by the neighboring country on multiple occasions.
According to the Costa Rican newspaper La Nación, the Vice Minister of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica, Duayner Salas, indicated that the main interest is to address the concerns that Costa Rica has expressed regarding restrictions on access to the Panamanian market.
The Costa Rican authorities indicate that the decision taken by Panama is affecting 26 industrial plants.
According to the information provided to the WTO, Costa Rica assures that Panama's decision not to renew permits for its plants is incompatible with 14 articles of the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.
The president of the Panamanian Association of Exporters, Roberto Tribaldos, comments that Costa Rica has had imports from Panamanian plants blocked since 2011, despite the fact that the government has sent the information requested by the neighboring country on multiple occasions.
