Costa Rica takes dispute with Panama over food exports to the WTO

Published 2021년 1월 14일

Tridge summary

Costa Rica has initiated a trade dispute with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against Panama, asserting that the latter's restrictions or bans on Costa Rican agricultural products, including dairy, meat, and certain fruits, violate international trade agreements and WTO guidelines for sanitary and phytosanitary measures. This step opens a 60-day period for both countries to negotiate a resolution amicably. If unresolved, Costa Rica can request the establishment of a WTO panel to further investigate and resolve the dispute. The current dispute stems from Panama's concerns about potential pesticide residues in Costa Rican strawberry exports and incomplete export permit renewals, a situation exacerbated by the WTO's Appellate Body being blocked for over a year due to the United States' refusal to appoint new judges, delaying the resolution of disputes.

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Original content

EFE.- Costa Rica asked the World Trade Organization (WTO) to hold consultations with Panama due to measures that restrict or prohibit the importation of Costa Rican products such as dairy, beef, pork and poultry, sausages and fruits (strawberry , pineapple, plantain and banana). The Costa Rican side considers that these restrictions are not consistent with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the consensus reached in the WTO for the application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures, the WTO reported today. Follow the information on the economy and the business world in Forbes Central America The request for consultations formally initiates a trade dispute within the WTO, although initially it gives the countries involved 60 days to reach a consensus bilaterally. If after that period no agreement is reached, the complaining party can request the creation of a WTO panel to resolve the dispute through third parties, although this process can take months or even ...

Source: Forbescentroamerica