G/TFA/N/CRI/3  
 
17 October 2022  
(22-7778) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: Spanish  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF ARRANGEMENTS AND PROGRESS IN THE PROVISION OF  
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT  
FOR CATEGORY C COMMITMENTS  
COMMUNICATION FROM COSTA RICA  
The following communication, dated 11 October 2022, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Costa Rica for Members' information.  
 
_______________  
 
 
Costa Rica hereby notifies information on the arrangements concluded and progress made in the 
provision of technical assistance and capacity building sup port for the following Category  C 
designations, in accordance with Article  16 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement.  
 
In its notification dated 7 November 2017 (G/TFA/N/CRI/1), Costa Rica indicated its Category C 
commitments and the technical assistance and support for capacity building it required for 
implementation, specifically for meeting  the obligations set out in Articles 10.1.1 and 10.2.2 of the 
Agreement.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date 
for 
implementation  Definitive date 
for 
implementation  
Articles 10.1.1  
and 10.2.2  Formalities and 
Documentation 
Requirements / Acceptance 
of Copies  C 30 June 2019  30 January 2023  
Donors:  World Bank Group  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
With regard to Article 10.1.1, support was requested to conduct an internal review of the formalities and 
documentation requirements for drawing up and implementing an improvement plan in conformity with the 
obligations set forth in the Article.  
 
For Article 10.2.2, support was requested to:  
 
• Draw up a list of the documents required by the different governmental agencies for the exportation, 
importation and transit of goods . 
 
• Design and implement a system for the exchange of information b etween governmental agencies.  
 
Following the request, between September 2018 and February 2019 , a review of existing procedures at 
Costa  Rica's land border posts, ports and airports  was conducted  with World Bank support. The aim was to 
review formalities a nd documentation requirements, while identifying opportunities for improvement relating 
to customs procedures for the import, export and transit of goods.  
 
As a result, the World Bank issued a report entitled "Review of formalities and documentation requir ements 
and identification of opportunities for improvement relating to import, export and transit procedures at the 
Peñas Blancas, Paso Canoas, Puerto Caldera, Puerto Limón and Juan Santamaría  International Airport  
(Costa  Rica) border posts  (Articles 10.1 and 10.2 of the TFA)", which summarizes the findings and 
recommendations emerging from the study.  
 G/TFA/N/CRI/3  
 
- 2 - 
 
  The results of this work were also included and elaborated upon in a document entitled "Priority 
Trade  Facilitation Agenda", which was decla red of public and national interest through Executive Decree 
No. 42065 -MP-COMEX of 17 October 2019.   
 
In line with the recommendations made in this report and contained in the "Priority Agenda", Costa Rica has  
successfully made a number of  improvements to its foreign trade procedures . Such improvements include the 
following : 
 
• Issuance of  guidelines  on eliminat ing requests  for copies or original  versions  of documents when 
customs declarations fall in the amber traffic light  category . 
 
• Establ ishment of a  higher authority , the "Border Coordinator ", to manage land border control posts.  
 
• Increase in the number of  border control officials at the Peñas Blancas (border with Nicaragua) and 
Paso Canoas (border with Panama) land border posts.  
 
• Creation  of local trade facilitation committees  in which both the public and private sector s can 
participat e. 
 
• Training on coordinated border management, public service ethics and the single window for foreign 
trade.  
 
• Development of a  website containing all customs and foreign trade regulations , called the Foreign 
Trade Portal . 
 
• Analysis of t he risk management system and adoption of a new system called the National Risk 
Management System (SINIGER, currently under development).  
 
• Approval of amen dments to the General Customs Law1, which included recommendations made by 
COMEX on the back of support provided by the World Bank, specifically regarding issues such as 
authorized economic operators, advance rulings, the "reasonable doubt" procedure and the 
"self-determined rectification" procedure.  
 
In light of the above, Costa Rica wishes  to express its full satisfaction with the technical assistance and support 
provided by the World Bank Group following the request submitted  to this Organization. Th e support has 
enabled the country to develop the capacities needed  to move forward  in implementing the provisions of 
Articles 10.1.1 and 10.2.2 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement.  
 
Since the study was concluded, the World Bank has also provided Costa Rica with technical assistance for 
activities  relating to other provisions of the Agreement, such as a study on clearance times at the container 
terminal of Moín and a pilot scheme for t he implementation of risk -based sampling for products of 
phytosanitary interest.  
 
Current actions:  
 
Recently, within the framework of actions to implement Category C provisions, the Ministry of Foreign Trade 
conducted a new study to identify which  physical documents – in the form of  original versions or copies - are 
requested during the various customs a nd foreign trade procedures  at Costa Rica's land border posts.  
 
This analysis has resulted in a set of recommendations that control agencies could implement to reduce 
requests for printed copies and documents, the aim being  to streamlin e and digitaliz e import, export and 
transit procedures for goods.  
 
The National Trade Facilitation Council (CONAFAC) will promote  the undertaking of a similar study at the 
country's main ports and airports.  
 
Lastly, once the Border Integration Programme has been fully implem ented , both SINIGER and the 
Management Control System will be operational . These systems will act as technological tools to support the 
control of  goods  and trade in goods , and will help the country to comply with the provisions notified under 
Category C.  
 
__________  
 
1 Supplement No. 132 to Official Journal La Gaceta  No. 121, 29 June 2022. Law No. 10271: 
Amendments to the General Customs Law, Law No. 7557.