ANNOUNCEMENT 25 Apr 2020

In April 2020, the authorities of Costa Rica approved the reduction of import duties for 50,012 MT of rice.

NUMBER OF INTERVENTIONS

1

  • 0 harmful
  • 0 neutral
  • 1 liberalising

SOURCE

Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce of Costa Rica. Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Comercio. Comunicados. " Gobierno habilita importación de arroz con 5,5% de arancel para garantizar el abastecimiento nacional". Available at: https://www.meic.go.cr/meic/comunicado/1004/gobierno-habilita-importacion-de-arroz-con-65-de-arancel-para-garantizar-el-abastecimiento-nacional.php

Inception date: 25 Apr 2020 | Removal date: open ended

Import tariff quota

On 25 April 2020, the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce of Costa Rica allowed the importation of 50,012 MT of rice at a reduced import tariff of 6.5%. According to the WTO tariff download facility, the usual import duty applicable to the affected commodity is 35%.

The new tariff-rate quota has been approved in response to a request made by the public institution CONARROZ which among its duties, it has the responsibility to advise the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock as well as the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce of possible rice shortages, as rice is considered a key product in the Costa Rican diet.

In this context, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock stated that "these shortages are lived worldwide as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic." 

The new measure was adopted via Executive Decree Nº42320-MAG-MEIC-COMEX published on the Official Gazette on 25 April 2020.

AFFECTED SECTORS

 
011

AFFECTED PRODUCTS

 
100610