Costa Rica Abandons CPTPP Trade Bid and Dismisses Foreign Trade Minister
Costa Rica has officially withdrawn its application to join the CPTPP trade pact. President Laura Fernandez also confirmed the dismissal of trade minister.
POLICY WIRE — San Jose, Costa Rica — The government of Costa Rica has officially retracted its application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a significant trans-Pacific trade bloc.
President Laura Fernandez announced the decision on Wednesday. Alongside the withdrawal, the administration confirmed the dismissal of Foreign Trade Minister Indiana Trejos, who had been actively involved in the negotiation process.
Costa Rica initially submitted its formal request to join the trade agreement in 2022. Over the following years, the nation engaged in more than 100 high-level meetings aimed at building consensus among existing member states.
The move follows internal political friction regarding the potential accession. The National Liberation Party (PLN), which serves as the country’s largest opposition group, had previously declared its intention to vote against the agreement, creating a difficult path for the government to secure the necessary legislative support.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
