Costa Rica Council Rejects Trans-Pacific Agreement
TRADE · COSTA RICA
Key Facts
- —The country Costa Rica concluded talks to join the 12-member Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in May 2026. The deal still needs signing and approval by lawmakers.
- —What happened The five councillors of Alvarado, a farming canton in Cartago province, voted unanimously against accession, La Nación reported on 30 September and Delfino.cr on 2 October.
- —Who is involved Turrialba and Los Chiles councils have passed similar unanimous motions. President Laura Fernández says she has not yet approved the deal.
- —What it means for you Exporters and investors face a less certain timetable. Dairy, rice, sugar, coffee and vegetable growers are pressing for exclusions or compensation.
- —Still open Whether Fernández signs after meeting supporters and opponents on 9 October. A trade ministry letter had pointed to a November signing.
The municipal council of Alvarado, a farming canton in Costa Rica’s Cartago province, has unanimously opposed the country joining the Trans-Pacific agreement. The motion asks Congress to halt the accession process and hold a national debate first.
The vote, reported by La Nación on 30 September and Delfino.cr on 2 October, adds to growing local objections. It lands a week before President Laura Fernández meets supporters and critics of the deal.
What the Alvarado council decided
The motion came from councillor Dora Ramírez of the Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC), and all five councillors backed it. Local farmers and cattle ranchers attended the session to support it, according to Delfino.cr.
The text says the canton’s development depends “fundamentally” on farming. It names dairy, meat, rice, sugar, coffee, vegetables and oilseeds as exposed to competition from larger, subsidised economies.
The council also asked six other Cartago cantons and two district councils to join the stand. It urged the National Union of Local Governments (UNGL) and the national mayors’ association (ANAI) to oppose the pact.
One argument stands out. Costa Rica already has free trade agreements with six of the 12 members: Chile, Peru, Canada, Mexico, Singapore and the United Kingdom.
The motion says those deals have not lifted exports or diversified production, and claims the trade deficit with those partners has grown. That claim has not been independently checked.
Other councils follow the same line
Turrialba, also in Cartago, unanimously approved a motion from its mayor, Carlos Hidalgo Flores, El Mundo CR reported on 30 September. It cited imported dairy products and the survival of small milk producers.
In the northern canton of Los Chiles, councillors unanimously reaffirmed their opposition on 22 September, San Carlos Digital reported. These motions carry political weight but no legal force.
Where the accession stands
Costa Rica applied in August 2022, and members agreed to open accession talks in November 2024. Negotiations were substantially concluded in May 2026, led by then trade minister Manuel Tovar.
Tovar later became foreign minister and was fired after 139 days over a missed Trump meeting. The trade ministry (Comex) says the accession protocol is under legal review and must go to the Legislative Assembly once signed.
A Comex letter of 9 September said Fernández was expected to sign in November, CR Hoy reported. On 24 September, however, she said the deal lacked her approval and she had not reviewed the draft.
The case for joining
Comex argues the Trans-Pacific agreement would open new markets, draw foreign investment and lower the cost of living. Fernández’s own government programme backed accession, CR Hoy reported.
The president has not ruled the deal out. She wants a technical review of who gains and who loses, with compensation or exclusions for sectors that could be hurt.
That leaves room for a middle path rather than a clean yes or no. For background on the country’s politics and trade, see Costa Rica Explained: The Country, Its Politics, Its Economy and What to Watch.
What Is Not Yet Known
It is unclear whether the other Cartago councils named by Alvarado will pass similar motions. No outcome has been set for the meeting at the presidential office on 9 October.
Comex has not published the final Trans-Pacific agreement protocol or a list of sensitive products. It is also not known whether a November signing date still holds.
Sources: Delfino.cr, “Concejo Municipal de Alvarado se opone al ingreso de Costa Rica al Acuerdo Transpacífico” (2 October 2026); La Nación (30 September 2026); El Mundo CR (30 September 2026); San Carlos Digital (2 October 2026); CR Hoy (2 October 2026).
Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief · Editorial standards · Report an error