New year will hold key to Costa Rica for Pacific Alliance

Next year will hold the key to Costa Rica's decision own whether to join the Pacific Alliance, which is why business organizations are calling on the government to launch talks as soon as possible.

The business chambers are calling on Dyalá Jiménez, the Trade minister to hold meetings on the sensitive issues that could be involved. The fact that Costa Rica already is an observer in the Pacific Alliance provides it with time for an appraisal ahead of any decision by President Carlos Alvarado on whether or not to join.

The farm sector and the food industry are concerned about proposals to open markets without any safeguards, although Costa Rica has experience in such issues in its free trade accords with Mexico, Chile and Peru.