Costa Rica’s inclusion in the Pacific Alliance (AP) divided the national productive sector. Industrials and exporters are in favor, whereas agricultural producers and exporters are against it.
The AP is more than a trade agreement, because one of its ambitious goals is to build an area of deep integration towards the free movement of goods, services, capital and people.
The industrial and exporters chambers, representatives of Foreign Companies and AMCHAM support the idea of joining the exclusive club formed in 2011 by Colombia, Mexico, Chile and Peru.
On the other hand, the National Agricultural Alliance (ANA), which brings together the entire domestic agricultural sector, is completely against Costa Rica’s incorporation to the AP, arguing it’s detrimental to the interests of the country and the agricultural sector.
The government also has divided opinions on the matter. Foreign Trade Minister Alexander Mora and Chancellor Manuel González are in favor of the measure; whereas the Vice President and Minister of Finance, Helio Fallas, and the Minister of Agriculture, Luis Felipe Arauz, do not favor the trade bloc.
President Luis Guillermo Solís, on the other hand, is ready to go to Chile on June, 28th to participate in the AP Summit, but will not make a decision towards the formal incorporation.