Costa Rica is in favor of a bilateral agreement with Mexico, which allows for a joint and direct conciliation regarding the restriction imposed by the country on the entry of hass avocado from Mexico.
This was explained by Dyalá Jiménez, Minister of Foreign Trade, who indicated that this has been the spirit of this government, in order to resolve disputes in a friendly manner with a country that has been a business partner since 1995.
Jiménez explained that, just like in a civil trial, agreements are sought to withdraw the trial. Currently, it is in the second stage out of three.
The case is being analyzed in the World Trade Organization (WTO).
In this process, there is no monetary punishment for the country. The idea is to determine if the imposed measure violates trade obligations and agreements.
Although, there are expenses for the procedure, as detailed Jiménez, the first stage of consultation required 14 million colones, while the second involved 25 million colones. To these amounts, they must add 90 million colones for the advice provided by the WTO, which is more economic than what a private service would charge.
Mexico and Costa Rica have that spirit and, at any moment of the panel, the parties can reach an agreement and, in this case, Mexico, which is the withdrawing party, can withdraw the case,”
explained the Minister to the members of the Commission on Economic Affairs.