WTO

The World Trade Organization will grant Costa Rica ten days to file a response, and the countries will then have 60 days to negotiate a solution on the ban on Hass avocados.

The Agriculture Ministry said in a news release that officials are working on a protocol that would allow them negotiate the reopening of avocado imports from Mexico by midyear.

Agricultural importers say contraband Mexican Hass avocados have been appearing in farmers markets around the capital lately.

Canada and Mexico won WTO approval Monday to impose some $1 billion a year in trade sanctions against the United States over its country-of-origin labeling requirement for beef and pork.