Costa Rican Dairy Producers Complain About U.S. Export Favoritism

The Costa Rican National Chamber of Milk Producers (CNPL) has expressed its 'surprise, concern, and indignation' at the government's unilateral decision to relax import approval procedures for dairy products from the United States. The CNPL claims there was no prior consultation or official information provided to the national sector.

According to Ivannia Quesada Villalobos, president of the CNPL, the decision permits the U.S. to import products under the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (RD-CAFTA). The chamber reports a 143% increase in U.S. cheese imports recently, with mozzarella cheese imports surging nearly 300%. They also highlighted the increasing entry of 'imitation cheeses,' which have grown by 120% in volume and could potentially mislead consumers due to their presentation and labeling.

The CNPL raised economic concerns about this measure, which may exacerbate the local dairy sector’s competitive disadvantage against big international industries. They emphasized the importance of maintaining sanitary measures as technical necessities rather than bargaining chips in global tariff negotiations. The chamber accused the decision of undermining the country’s legal security framework and food sovereignty.

The CNPL also reiterated its opposition to Costa Rica's initiatives to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), viewing it as a significant threat to national production. Calls for equitable competition conditions and protection against adverse agreements continue as tensions between the dairy sector and government rise.

As of the time this article was written, Costa Rica’s Ministry of Foreign Trade has not responded to the CNPL’s accusations.