Costa Rica Signs On To Customs Union

Costa Rica has signed on to an agreement that would standardize import taxes and duties among Central American countries.

That means customs booths on the Nicaraguan border will be eliminated, although the agreement leaves it up to individual countries to decide when.

Trade Minister Marco Ruíz told the daily La Nación that the customs posts will be gradually converted into stations for enforcing sanitary standards.

The customs union is an important step for Central America’s negotiations with the European Union on a possible Association Agreement.