Chinese officials reported Tuesday that Costa Rica is officially included in the list of countries authorized to export beef to that country.
During an August tour of Asia by Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla, officials from both countries announced the forthcoming opening of the market for Costa Rican beef, pending delivery to the Asian country of health certificates.
Foreign Trade Minister Anabel González said that China’s approval “is a win for the agricultural export sector, because that market offers great potential for our businesses, and we will continue working on the identification of potential niche markets for Costa Rican products.”
Costa Rica already has approval for entry into China of bananas and cattle hides, and is working on the approval for pork, chicken, seafood, pineapple and melon. Permission for dairy products is in its final stage, according to PROCOMER.
During the first year of entry into force of the China-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement, exports from Costa Rica to China increased 70 percent compared to the same period the previous year, before the trade agreement was implemented.
