Countries › Costa Rica › Guide › 9. Trade and customs › Costa Rica's trade agreements: CAFTA-DR, the EU and UK association agreements, China, Mexico, Canada, Korea, the UAE and more, with approving laws
Costa Rica's trade agreements: CAFTA-DR, the EU and UK association agreements, China, Mexico, Canada, Korea, the UAE and more, with approving laws
Argentina. For full detail on Argentina, go to The Argentine Thread.
Last verified: 2026-10-29 · Status: Changing
Costa Rica has a dense network of trade agreements covering the United States through CAFTA-DR, the European Union and the United Kingdom through Central American association agreements, China, Mexico, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Singapore, Korea, EFTA, Panama, CARICOM, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador and the United Arab Emirates. Each was approved by a law published in SCIJ, and COMEX publishes how origin is proved for each partner. Accession to the DEPA digital economy agreement was approved in May 2026 and awaits entry into force, and there is no trade agreement with Argentina or Mercosur on COMEX's list.
USD figures use the Banco Central de Costa Rica reference selling rate of ₡454.82 per US dollar published for 29 October 2026 (indicator 318 on bccr.fi.cr), rounded to the cent. Customs amounts fixed in pesos centroamericanos are converted at one peso centroamericano to one US dollar (Acuerdo Monetario Centroamericano art. 42) and paid in colones at their equivalent.
Key facts
| Trade agreements with origin schemes listed by COMEX (excluding GSP) | 19 (including the Venezuela partial scope agreement) COMEX certificación de origen page, as of 2026-10-29 · in force |
|---|---|
| Trade agreement with the United States | CAFTA-DR, Ley 8622 Ley 8622, as of 2026-10-29 · in force |
| Trade agreement with the European Union | Central America and EU Association Agreement, Ley 9154 Ley 9154, as of 2026-10-29 · in force |
| Trade agreement with China | Costa Rica and China FTA, Ley 8953 Ley 8953, as of 2026-10-29 · in force |
| Trade agreement with Argentina | None listed by COMEX COMEX certificación de origen page, as of 2026-10-29 · in force |
| DEPA accession | Approved (Ley 10957), entry into force pending Ley 10957, as of 2026-10-29 · pending |
The rule
1. Costa Rica approved the CAFTA-DR (United States, Central America, Dominican Republic) trade agreement by Ley 8622 of 2007-11-21; SCIJ records its vigencia from 2007-12-21.Ley 8622, single article approving the agreement, 2007-11-21 official text · verified 2026-10-29
2. Costa Rica approved the European Union (Central America Association Agreement) trade agreement by Ley 9154 of 2013-07-03; SCIJ records its vigencia from 2013-10-01.Ley 9154, single article approving the agreement, 2013-07-03 official text · verified 2026-10-29
3. Costa Rica approved the protocol to the Central America and EU Association Agreement for the accession of Croatia by Ley 10346 of 28 March 2023.Ley 10346, single article approving the protocol, 2023-03-28 official text · verified 2026-10-29
4. Costa Rica approved the United Kingdom (Central America Association Agreement) trade agreement by Ley 9775 of 2019-10-29; SCIJ records its vigencia from 2019-10-30.Ley 9775, single article approving the agreement, 2019-10-29 official text · verified 2026-10-29
5. Costa Rica approved the China trade agreement by Ley 8953 of 2011-06-02; SCIJ records its vigencia from 2011-08-01.Ley 8953, single article approving the agreement, 2011-06-02 official text · verified 2026-10-29
6. Costa Rica approved the Mexico (Central America and Mexico FTA) trade agreement by Ley 9122 of 2013-03-06; SCIJ records its vigencia from 2013-07-01.Ley 9122, single article approving the agreement, 2013-03-06 official text · verified 2026-10-29
7. Costa Rica approved an amendment to the Central America and Mexico FTA adding Annex 10.2 on public procurement coverage by Ley 10428 of 11 December 2023.Ley 10428, single article approving the amendment, 2023-12-11 official text · verified 2026-10-29
8. Costa Rica approved the Canada trade agreement by Ley 8300 of 2002-09-10; SCIJ records its vigencia from 2002-10-15.Ley 8300, single article approving the agreement, 2002-09-10 official text · verified 2026-10-29
9. Costa Rica approved the Chile (Central America and Chile FTA) trade agreement by Ley 8055 of 2001-01-04; SCIJ records its vigencia from 2001-02-28.Ley 8055, single article approving the agreement, 2001-01-04 official text · verified 2026-10-29
10. Costa Rica approved the Colombia trade agreement by Ley 9238 of 2014-05-05; SCIJ records its vigencia from 2016-08-01.Ley 9238, single article approving the agreement, 2014-05-05 official text · verified 2026-10-29
11. Costa Rica approved the Peru trade agreement by Ley 9133 of 2013-04-25; SCIJ records its vigencia from 2013-06-01.Ley 9133, single article approving the agreement, 2013-04-25 official text · verified 2026-10-29
12. Costa Rica approved the Singapore trade agreement by Ley 9123 of 2013-04-02; SCIJ records its vigencia from 2013-07-01.Ley 9123, single article approving the agreement, 2013-04-02 official text · verified 2026-10-29
13. Costa Rica approved the Korea (Central America and Korea FTA) trade agreement by Ley 9671 of 2019-03-18; SCIJ records its vigencia from 2019-11-01.Ley 9671, single article approving the agreement, 2019-03-18 official text · verified 2026-10-29
14. Costa Rica approved the EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) trade agreement by Ley 9232 of 2014-04-03.Ley 9232, single article approving the agreement, 2014-04-03 official text · verified 2026-10-29
15. Costa Rica approved the Panama (Central America and Panama FTA) trade agreement by Ley 8675 of 2008-10-16; SCIJ records its vigencia from 2008-10-24.Ley 8675, single article approving the agreement, 2008-10-16 official text · verified 2026-10-29
16. Costa Rica approved the CARICOM trade agreement by Ley 8455 of 2005-09-19; SCIJ records its vigencia from 2005-10-17.Ley 8455, single article approving the agreement, 2005-09-19 official text · verified 2026-10-29
17. Costa Rica approved the Dominican Republic (Central America and Dominican Republic FTA) trade agreement by Ley 7882 of 1999-06-09; SCIJ records its vigencia from 1999-07-08.Ley 7882, single article approving the agreement, 1999-06-09 official text · verified 2026-10-29
18. Costa Rica approved the Ecuador (Trade Partnership Agreement) trade agreement by Ley 10494 of 2024-06-19; SCIJ records its vigencia from 2024-07-01.Ley 10494, single article approving the agreement, 2024-06-19 official text · verified 2026-10-29
19. Costa Rica approved the United Arab Emirates (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) trade agreement by Ley 10618 of 2024-12-02; SCIJ records its vigencia from 2024-12-12.Ley 10618, single article approving the agreement, 2024-12-02 official text · verified 2026-10-29
20. Costa Rica approved its accession to the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) with New Zealand, Singapore, Chile and Korea by Ley 10957 of 14 May 2026; COMEX reported on 17 July 2026 that it deposited the accession instrument and that entry into force will follow when the other parties confirm their internal procedures.Ley 10957, single article approving accession, 2026-05-14 official text · verified 2026-10-29 · changed: Accession approved by Ley 10957 (May 2026) and instrument deposited in New Zealand on 17 July 2026; not yet in force for Costa Rica.
| Partner | Approving law | Law date | SCIJ vigencia | Official text |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAFTA-DR (United States, Central America, Dominican Republic) | Ley 8622 | 2007-11-21 | 2007-12-21 | https://sinalevi.go.cr/ResultadosNormativa/Informacion?param1=62270¶m2=¶m3=1 |
| European Union (Central America Association Agreement) | Ley 9154 | 2013-07-03 | 2013-10-01 | https://sinalevi.go.cr/ResultadosNormativa/Informacion?param1=75384¶m2=¶m3=1 |
| United Kingdom (Central America Association Agreement) | Ley 9775 | 2019-10-29 | 2019-10-30 | https://sinalevi.go.cr/ResultadosNormativa/Informacion?param1=89929¶m2=¶m3=1 |
| China | Ley 8953 | 2011-06-02 | 2011-08-01 | https://sinalevi.go.cr/ResultadosNormativa/Informacion?param1=71460¶m2=¶m3=1 |
| Mexico (Central America and Mexico FTA) | Ley 9122 | 2013-03-06 | 2013-07-01 | https://sinalevi.go.cr/ResultadosNormativa/Informacion?param1=74973¶m2=¶m3=1 |
| Canada | Ley 8300 | 2002-09-10 | 2002-10-15 | https://sinalevi.go.cr/ResultadosNormativa/Informacion?param1=49451¶m2=¶m3=1 |
| Chile (Central America and Chile FTA) | Ley 8055 | 2001-01-04 | 2001-02-28 | https://sinalevi.go.cr/ResultadosNormativa/Informacion?param1=46013¶m2=¶m3=1 |
| Colombia | Ley 9238 | 2014-05-05 | 2016-08-01 | https://sinalevi.go.cr/ResultadosNormativa/Informacion?param1=77663¶m2=¶m3=1 |
| Peru | Ley 9133 | 2013-04-25 | 2013-06-01 | https://sinalevi.go.cr/ResultadosNormativa/Informacion?param1=75726¶m2=¶m3=1 |
| Singapore | Ley 9123 | 2013-04-02 | 2013-07-01 | https://sinalevi.go.cr/ResultadosNormativa/Informacion?param1=74645¶m2=¶m3=1 |
| Korea (Central America and Korea FTA) | Ley 9671 | 2019-03-18 | 2019-11-01 | https://sinalevi.go.cr/ResultadosNormativa/Informacion?param1=89549¶m2=¶m3=1 |
| EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) | Ley 9232 | 2014-04-03 | not shown | https://sinalevi.go.cr/ResultadosNormativa/Informacion?param1=77493¶m2=¶m3=1 |
| Panama (Central America and Panama FTA) | Ley 8675 | 2008-10-16 | 2008-10-24 | https://sinalevi.go.cr/ResultadosNormativa/Informacion?param1=64218¶m2=¶m3=1 |
| CARICOM | Ley 8455 | 2005-09-19 | 2005-10-17 | https://sinalevi.go.cr/ResultadosNormativa/Informacion?param1=55670¶m2=¶m3=1 |
| Dominican Republic (Central America and Dominican Republic FTA) | Ley 7882 | 1999-06-09 | 1999-07-08 | https://sinalevi.go.cr/ResultadosNormativa/Informacion?param1=48065¶m2=¶m3=1 |
| Ecuador (Trade Partnership Agreement) | Ley 10494 | 2024-06-19 | 2024-07-01 | https://sinalevi.go.cr/ResultadosNormativa/Informacion?param1=102300¶m2=¶m3=1 |
| United Arab Emirates (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) | Ley 10618 | 2024-12-02 | 2024-12-12 | https://sinalevi.go.cr/ResultadosNormativa/Informacion?param1=103465¶m2=¶m3=1 |
Trade agreements, approving laws and SCIJ vigencia dates (for some agreements SCIJ shows the publication date of the approving law, not the date the agreement began to apply)
Worked example
- A US buyer of Costa Rican goods relies on CAFTA-DR self certification; a German buyer needs an EUR.1 from PROCOMER or an invoice declaration up to €6,000; an Argentine buyer gets no preference because no Costa Rican agreement covers Argentina.
Step by step
- Find the agreement that covers your origin or destination country in the table.
- Check the product specific rules of origin and tariff schedule in the official text.
- Check COMEX's origin certification scheme for that partner (see rules of origin page).
- For investment protection with Argentina, the separate bilateral investment treaty is covered in the FX section.
Common traps
- Approval by law is not the same as application: for several agreements the date the agreement began to apply for Costa Rica differs from the SCIJ vigencia date, so check with COMEX before relying on a preference.
- DEPA is approved but not in force.
- Argentina has no trade agreement with Costa Rica listed by COMEX; for the Argentine side of trade and FX, use The Argentine Thread guide.
Sources
- COMEX, Certificación de origen
- COMEX communiqué CP-3247 on DEPA accession (17 July 2026)
- SCIJ (Sistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica)
Related pages
- trade/rules-of-origin-and-certification
- trade/exporting-goods
- taxes/tax-treaties
- fx/overview
- https://theargentinethread.com/guide/
- /country/costa-rica/
- /calendar/
- Live dashboard
Related: Costa Rica country profile · live dashboard · central bank and release calendar · our posts on X · where Argentina is involved, see The Argentine Thread guide
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