APPENDIX TABLES Costa Rica WT/TPR/S/180 
 Page 113 
 
 
Table AI.1  
Merchandise exports by product, 2001-2005  
(US$ million and per cent) 
Description 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
 (US$ million) 
Total 4,716 4,950 5,800 5,953 7,151 
 (% of total) 
Total primary products 37.5 36.5 34.4 37.2 34.3 
   Agriculture 35.8 34.7 33.2 36.0 32.7 
      Food 32.5 31.3 30.1 32.7 29.7 
         0573 Bananas (including planta ins), fresh or dried 10.8 9.7 9.7 9.3 6.9 
         0579 Fruit, fresh or dried, n.e.s. 4.5 4.6 4.8 5.7 5.9 
         0711 Coffee, not roasted, whet her or not decaffeinated  3.5 3.4 3. 3 3.3 3.7 
         0989 Food preparations, n.e.s. 1.5 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.1 
         0548 Vegetable products, r oots and tubers, chiefly for human food, 
n.e.s., fresh or dried 1.1 0.9 0.7 1.0 1.0 
         4222 Palm oil and its fractions 0.5 0.7 0.9 1.5 0.9 
      Agricultural raw materials 3.4 3.4 3.1 3.3 3.0 
         2927 Cut flowers and foliage 1.8 1.8 1.5 1.5 1.5 
         2926 Bulbs, tubers and rhizomes  of flowering or of foliage plants;    
cuttings, slips, live trees and other plants 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.2 1.0 
      Mining 1.7 1.8 1.2 1.2 1.7 
      Ores and other minerals 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.4 
         2882 Non-ferrous base metal wa ste and scrap, n.e.s. 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 
      Non-ferrous metals 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.8 0.7 
         6842 Aluminium and aluminium alloys, worked 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.7 0.7 
      Fuels 0.8 1.0 0.5 0.1 0.5 
Manufactures 62.4 63.3 65.4 62.7 65.3 
   Iron and steel 0.9 0.8 0.7 1.0 1.0 
         6741 Flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, plated or coated 
with zinc 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.5 
   Chemicals 7.0 7.2 7.2 7.5 7.7 
         5429 Medicaments, n.e.s. 3.1 3.2 3.2 3.4 3.0 
         5121 Acyclic monohydric alcohols 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.5 
   Other semi-manufactures 6.1 5.9 5.9 7.5 7.8 
         6251 Tyres, pneumatic, new,  of a kind used on motor cars (including 
station wagons and racing cars) 0.5 0.5 0.5 1.1 1.1 
         6429 Articles of paper pulp, paper, paperboard or cellulose wadding, 
n.e.s. 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.9 1.1 
   Machinery and transport equipment 28.2 28.5 33.8 29.5 30.1 
      Power-generating machinery 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.3 
         7169 Parts, n.e.s., suitable for use solely or principally with the 
machines falling within group 716 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.3 
      Other non-electrical machinery 1.7 1.2 0.9 1.0 1.0 
         Agricultural machinery and tractors 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
      Office machines and telecommun ications equipment 18.4 19.9 25.8 22.2 23.5 
         7764 Electronic integrated circuits and microassemblies 1.0 0.9 1.4 3.4 11.2 
         7599 Parts and accessories (other than covers, carrying cases and the 
like) suitable for use solely or pr incipally with the machines of 
subgroups 751.1, 751.2, 751.9 and group 752 16.7 18.1 23.7 15.1 9.5 
         7642 Microphones and stands therefor; loudspeakers, whether or not 
mounted in their enclosures; headphones, earphones and 
combined microphone/speaker sets 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.6 1.6 
      Other electrical machinery 7.2 6.6 6.5 5.8 4.8 
         7731 Insulated (includi ng enamelled or anodized) wire, cable 
(including co-axial cable) and ot her insulated electric conductors, 
whether or not fitted with connectors 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.9 1.1 
Table AI.1 (cont'd) 
  WT/TPR/S/180 Trade Policy Review 
Page 114 
 
 
Description 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
         7725 Electrical apparatus for switching or protecting electrical circuits, 
or for making connections to or in electrical circuits, for a 
voltage not exceeding 1,000 V 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.1 
      Automotive products 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 
      Other transport equipment 0.7 0.7 0.4 0.3 0.3 
   Textiles 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.8 
   Articles of apparel and clot hing accessories 8.0 8.0 5.2 4.3 6.6 
         8414 Men's or boys' trous ers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and 
shorts, of textile fabrics,  not knitted or crocheted 1.2 0.5 0.1 0.1 1.7 
         8448 Slips, petticoats, briefs, panties, nightdresses, pyjamas, negligées, 
bathrobes, dressing-gowns  and similar articles 2.1 2.2 1.7 1.6 1.4 
         8416 Singlets and other vests,  underpants, briefs, nightshirts, pyjamas, 
bathrobes, dressing-gowns  and similar articles 1.0 1.1 0.9 1.0 1.3 
   Other consumer goods 11.5 12.3 12.0 12.3 11.4 
         8722 Instruments and appliances used in medical, surgical or 
veterinary sciences (includi ng sight-testing instruments but 
excluding electro-diagnostic and radiological instruments and 
apparatus) 5.8 7.1 8.0 8.0 7.0 
         8931 Articles for the conveyance or packing of goods, of plastics; 
stoppers, lids, caps and other closures, of plastics 0.9 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 
Other 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.3 
   Gold 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.3 
         9710 Gold, non-monetary 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.3 
Source : United Nations Statistics Division ( UNSD), Comtrade database (Standard Inte rnational Trade Classification, SITC 
 Rev.3). Costa Rica WT/TPR/S/180 
 Page 115 
 
 
Table AI.2 
Merchandise imports by product, 2001-2005  
(US$ million and per cent) 
Description 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
 (US$ million) 
Total 6,272 6,894 7,388 8,003 9,173 
 (% of total) 
Total primary products 17.2 16.7 17.6 20.5 19.6 
   Agriculture 8.3 8.7 8.6 9.6 7.5 
      Food 7.5 8.0 7.7 8.6 6.4 
         0989 Food preparations, n.e.s. 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.6 
         0449 Other maize,  unmilled 0.9 0. 9 0.9 1.1 0.5 
         2222 Soya beans 0.7 0.8 0.8 1.0 0.4 
         0421 Rice in the husk (paddy or rough rice) 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.4 
      Agricultural raw materials 0.8 0.7 0.9 1.0 1.1 
   Mining 8.8 7.9 9.0 10.9 12.1 
      Ores and other minerals 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 
      Non-ferrous metals 1.1 1.0 1.0 1.3 1.1 
         6824 Copper wire 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.4 
         6841 Aluminium and aluminium alloys, unwrought 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 
      Fuels 7.4 6.7 7.7 9.3 10.8 
         3330 Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous 
minerals, crude 0.7 1.2 1.5 1.9 2.2 
         3431 Natural gas, liquefied 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.4 
Manufactures 82.5 82.9 82.1 79.2 80.1 
   Iron and steel 2.5 2.6 2.9 3.5 2.8 
         6727 Semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel, 
containing by weight 0.25% or more of carbon 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 
   Chemicals 14.8 14.3 14.9 15.5 15.0 
         5429 Medicaments, n.e.s. 3.2 3.1 3.2 3.2 3.0 
         5711 Polyethylene 0.8 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.8 
     Other semi-manufactures 9.7 9.4 9.2 9.7 8.7 
         6414 Kraft paper and paperboard, uncoated, n.e.s., in 
rolls or sheets 2.0 1.7 1.9 1.9 1.7 
         6112 Composition leather with a basis of leather or 
leather fibre, in slabs, sheets or strip, whether or not in rolls 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.5 0.6 
   Machinery and transport equipment 40.0 41.9 41.3 37.5 39.7 
       Power-generating machinery 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.4 
      Other non-electrical machinery 6.9 7.2 7.0 6.5 6.0 
         Agricultural machinery and tractors 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.4 
      Office machines and telecommun ications equipment 21.3 22.4 23.1 20.4 22.7 
         7764 Electronic integrated circuits and microassemblies 13.8 12.8 14.2 12.9 15.7 
         7599 Parts and accessories (other than covers, carrying 
cases and the like) suitable for us e solely or principally with 
the machines of subgroups 751.1, 751.2, 751.9 and group 752 1.7 2.3 0.9 1.7 1.5 
      Other electrical machinery 4.6 4.6 4.9 4.3 5.5 
         7787 Electrical machines and apparatus, having 
individual functions, n.e.s.; parts thereof 0.3 0.4 0.2 0.2 1.2 
         7722 Printed circuits 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 1.0 
      Automotive products 5.7 6.0 4.9 5.0 4.2 
         7812 Motor vehicles for the transport of persons, n.e.s. 3.6 3.7 3.1 3.1 2.4 
      Other transport equipment 0.9 1.1 0.7 0.7 0.9 
   Textiles 2.6 2.6 2.5 2.7 2.6 
   Articles of apparel and clot hing accessories 4.9 3.8 2.7 2.3 3.7 
    Other consumer goods 8.1 8.3 8.5 8.0 7.5 
Other 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 
   Gold 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 
         9710 Gold, non-monetary 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 
Source : United Nations Statistics Division ( UNSD), Comtrade database (Standard Inte rnational Trade Classification, SITC 
 Rev.3). WT/TPR/S/180 Trade Policy Review 
Page 116 
 
 
Table AI.3 
Merchandise exports by trading partner, 2001-2005  
(US$ million and per cent) 
Description 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
  (US$ million) 
Total 4,716 4,950 5,800 5,953 7,151 
 (% of total)  
  America 74.0 75.3 70.4 71.0 67.5 
    USA 49.7 50.7 47.1 44.4 42.8 
    Other America 24.4 24.6 23.3 26.5 24.7 
      Guatemala 4.6 4.7 4.4 4.6 4.0 
      Nicaragua 3.5 3.3 3.2 3.7 3.8 
      Honduras 2.7 3.0 2.7 3.1 3.1 
      El Salvador 3.3 2.8 2.9 3.3 2.8 
      Mexico 1.8 2.3 2.2 3.0 2.7 
      Panama 3.0 2.9 2.8 3.0 2.6 
            
  Europe 17.9 18.0 18.5 18.3 17.5 
    EC(25) 17.7 17.7 18.3 18.2 17.0 
      Netherlands 5.8 6.4 6.2 5.6 6.3 
      Germany 2.5 2.9 3.1 4.0 3.0 
      Belgium 1.9 1.7 1.6 1.8 1.8 
      United Kingdom 2.7 2.2 2.7 2.2 1.8 
      Italy 2.0 1.7 1.5 1.2 1.1 
      Sweden 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.0 
    EFTA 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.4 
      Switzerland and Liechtenstein 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.4 
    Other Europe 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 
      Turkey 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 
            
  CISa 0.6 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.3 
      Russian Federation 0.5 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.2 
            
  Africa 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 
      Cameroon 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 
            
  Middle East 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
      Israel 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 
            
  Asia 7.3 6.4 10.6 10.4 14.5 
    China 0.3 0.7 1.5 2.7 3.4 
    Japan 0.9 0.6 1.0 0.7 0.8 
    Six East Asian Traders 4.7 4.7 7.1 6.2 9.8 
      Hong Kong, China  0.6 1.0 2.3 2.3 6.8 
      Malaysia 3.3 2.5 3.6 2.7 1.2 
      Chinese Taipei 0.2 0.5 0.7 0.6 1.2 
      Singapore 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.3 
      Korea, Republic of 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.3 
      Thailand 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 
    Other Asia 1.4 0.4 0.9 0.7 0.4 
      Philippines 1.3 0.1 0.6 0.4 0.1 
      India 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 
            
  Other 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
      Areas n.e.s. 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
            
Memorandum:           
    EC(15) 17.7 17.7 18.2 17.9 16.9 
a The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bela rus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, 
 Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan , Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. 
Source : United Nations Statistics Division ( UNSD), Comtrade database (Standard Inte rnational Trade Classification, SITC 
 Rev.3). Costa Rica WT/TPR/S/180 
 Page 117 
 
 
Table AI.4 
Merchandise imports by trading partner, 2001-2005 
(US$ million and per cent) 
Description 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
 (US$ million) 
World 6,272 6,894 7,388 8,003 9,173 
 (% of total) 
  America 77.1 76.6 74.1 73.0 68.9 
    USA 52.3 52.1 49.8 44.9 41.1 
    Other America 24.8 24.5 24.3 28.0 27.8 
      Venezuela 4.8 4.2 3.5 4.1 5.0 
      Mexico 6.1 5.3 5.1 5.2 4.7 
      Brazil 1.8 2.4 2.8 4.4 4.2 
      Colombia 2.4 2.4 2.9 3.5 2.9 
      Guatemala 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.0 2.0 
      Aruba 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.8 1.5 
            
  Europe 11.7 12.2 14.4 11.9 14.0 
    EC(25) 10.6 11.2 13.6 10.9 13.0 
      Ireland 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.6 4.7 
      Germany 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 1.7 
      France and Monaco  1.2 0.9 2.6 1.1 1.7 
      Spain 1.7 2.0 1.8 1.4 1.3 
      Netherlands 1.9 2.1 2.2 1.6 1.0 
    EFTA 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.9 0.9 
      Switzerland and Liechtenstein 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.9 0.9 
    Other Europe 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 
            
  CISa 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.7 
      Russian Federation 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.5 
      Ukraine 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 
            
  Africa 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 
            
  Middle East 0.7 0.3 0.5 0.3 1.7 
      Israel 0.6 0.3 0.5 0.3 1.7 
            
  Asia 10.1 10.4 10.1 13.9 14.6 
    China 1.6 1.8 2.2 3.4 3.8 
    Japan 3.7 4.3 4.2 6.0 5.8 
    Six East Asian Traders 4.3 3.9 3.3 3.9 4.0 
      Korea, Republic of 2.2 2.0 1.4 1.5 1.7 
      Chinese Taipei 1.1 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.9 
      Malaysia 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.5 
      Hong Kong, China  0.7 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.4 
      Thailand 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 
      Singapore 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 
    Other Asia 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.6 1.0 
      Philippines 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.4 
      India 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 
            
  Other 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.0 
      Areas n.e.s. 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.0 
            
Memorandum:           
    EC(15) 10.4 11.1 13.4 10.5 12.8 
a The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bela rus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, 
 Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan , Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. 
Source : United Nations Statistics Division ( UNSD), Comtrade database (Standard Inte rnational Trade Classification, SITC 
 Rev.3). WT/TPR/S/180 Trade Policy Review 
Page 118 
 
 
Table AII.1 
Notifications to the WTO, January 2001 to December 2006 
WTO Agreement Description of requirement Frequency WTO document 
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 
Article XXIV:7(a) 
 Customs unions or free-trade 
areas Ad hoc WT/REG218/N/1, 11/09/2006; 
WT/REG218/N/1Add.1, 20/09/2006;  
WT/REG136/N/1, 06/01/2004; 
WT/REG147/N/1, 17/01/2003 
Agreement on Agriculture  
Article 18.2 Tariff quota administration  Comprehensive one-off 
notification;  subsequently 
notification of changes G/AG/N/CRI/4/Add.1, 26/02/2001 
G/AG/N/CRI/1/Rev.1, 26/02/2001 
Article 18.2 Table MA:1- tariff quotas; 
Table MA:2- tariff quotas 
 On an annual basis G/AG/N/CRI/8, 26/02/2001  
Article 5.7 Table MA:4 – special 
safeguard  On an annual basis G/AG/N/CRI/14, 15/10/2002 
Article 18.2 and 18.3 Domestic support On  an annual basis G/AG/N/CRI/9, 26/02/2001 
Article 18.2 Tables ES:1 to ES:3 – export 
subsidies On an annual basis G/AG/N/CRI/13, 26/02/2001a 
Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures 
Annex B, paragraph 3 Enquiry point Once only, subsequently 
notification of changes G/SPS/NNA/10,  06/10/2006 
Annex B, paragraph 7 Transparency – notification 
of regulations   G/SPS/N/CRI/23 to 50 
of 29/09/2006 to 21/03/2001 
Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade 
Articles 2, 3, 5 and 7 Proposed and adopted 
technical regulations Before or, in the case of urgent 
problems, immediately after the 
measure is taken G/TBT/N/CRI/37 to 59, of 23/1/2004 
to 20/12/2006 
Article 10.1 and 10.3 Enquiry point Once only, subsequently 
notification of changes G/TBT/N/CRI/43, 24/05/2006 
Article 15.2 Implementation and 
administration measures Once only, subsequently 
notification of changes G/TBT/2/Add.51/Suppl.1, 10/03/2003 
Article 10.6 Technical regulations Ad hoc G/TBT/N/CRI/1, 30/01/2001  
Paragraph C of the Code of 
Good Practice for the 
Preparation, Adoption and Application of Standards Standardizing bodies that 
have accepted the Code Once only and when 
withdrawing from the Code G/TBT/CS/N/88, 19/01/1998 
Paragraph J of the Code of 
Good Practice for the 
Preparation, Adoption and 
Application of Standards Work programme of bodies 
that have accepted the Code On a semi-annual basis Not yet submitted 
Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the GATT 1994 (Anti-Dumping Agreement) 
Article 16.4 Anti-dumping actions Every two years G/ADP/N/145/CRI, 31/08/2006 a 
Article 18.5 Laws and regulations Once only, subsequently 
notification of changes G/ADP/N/1/CRI/2/Corr.1, 
24/12/2002; 
G/ADP/N/1/CRI/2, 05/11/2002 
Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of  the GATT 1994 (Agreement on Customs Valuation) 
Article 22.2 and Decision 
of the WTO Committee on 
Customs Valuation  
(12.5.95) Legislation Once only, subsequently 
notification of changes G/VAL/N/1/CRI/1, 27/09/2000 
G/VAL/5 Treatment of interest 
charges in the customs value  G/VAL/N/3/CRI/1, 01/02/2002 
Decision of the WTO 
Committee on Customs 
Valuation (12.5.95) Responses to the checklist of 
issues Once only G/VAL/N/2/CRI/1, 28/09/2001 
Agreement on Preshipment Inspection 
Article 5 Laws and regulations Once only, subsequently 
notification of changes G/PSI/N/1/Add.1 – 08/06/1995 
Table AII.1 (cont'd) 
 Costa Rica WT/TPR/S/180 
 Page 119 
 
 
WTO Agreement Description of requirement Frequency WTO document 
Agreement on Rules of Origin 
Article 5.1 Non-pref erential rules of 
origin Once only, subsequently 
notification of changes G/RO/N/5, 01/11/1995 
Annex II, paragraph 4 Preferential rules of origin Ad hoc G/RO/N/12, 01/10/1996 
Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures 
Article 7.3 Questionnaire On an annual basis G/LIC/N/3/CRI/3/Rev.1, 27/02/2001a 
 
Agreement on Subsidies a nd Countervailing Measures 
Article 25.1 and Article 
XVI:1 of the GATT 1994 Extension of export subsidy 
programmes 
 Ad hoc G/SCM/N/123/CRI and 
G/SCM/N/128/CRI, 05/07/2005 
Article 25.1 and Article 
XVI:1 of the GATT 1994 Legal basis of the 
programmes Ad hoc G/SCM/N/95/CRI and 
G/SCM/N/99/CRI, 08/07/2003; 
G/SCM/N/71/CRI, 15/03/2002   
    
Article 25.2 Subsidies Every three years (updating 
notifications in the two 
intervening years)  
Article 25.11 Actions taken with respect to 
countervailing duties Every two years G/SCM/N/144/Add.1, 18/10/2006 
a G/SCM/N/68/Add.1, 24/04/2001   
Article 27.4 
G/SCM/39 Transition period for the 
elimination of export 
subsidies  Ad hoc G/SCM/N/146/CRI,  04/07/2006 to 
G/SCM/N/74/CRI, 20/12/2001   
Article 32.6 Laws and regulations Once only, subsequently 
notification of changes G/SCM/N/1/CRI/2/Corr.1, 
24/12/2002;  G/SCM/N/1/CRI/2, 
05/11/2002 
Agreement on Safeguards 
Article 12.1(a) Investigati on Once only, upon initiating an 
investigatory process relating to 
serious injury or threat thereof G/SG/N/6/CRI/1, 19/03/2002 
Article 12.4 Safeguard measure Ad hoc  G/SG/N/7/CRI/1/Suppl.1, 28/03/2002; 
G/SG/N/7/CRI/1/, 19/03/2002 
General Agreement on Trade in Services 
Article III.4 Enquiry points Once only  
Article V.7(a) Economic integration 
agreements Once only S/C/N/374, 15/09/2006;  S/C/N/191, 
24/05/2002 
Agreement on Text iles and Clothing 
Article 2.8(c) and Article 
2.11  Integration of products into 
the GATT 1994 Once only G/TMB/N/481, 06/07/2004; 
G/TMB/N/389, 19/02/2001 
Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of  Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) 
Article 63.2 Laws and regulations Once only, subsequently 
notification of changes IP/N/1/CRI/C/3, 06/11/2002  to  
IP/N/1/CRI/U/1, 17/01/2001   
Article 69 Contact points Once only, subsequently 
notification of changes IP/N/3/Rev.6, 01/03/2002 
a Refers only to the date of  the most recent document. 
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
 WT/TPR/S/180 Trade Policy Review 
Page 120 
 
 
Table AIII.1 
Overview of Costa Rica's domestic legislation pertaining to intellectual property rights, 2006 
Legislation and scope Duration Comments, limitations and exclusions 
Article 47 of the C onstitution of 1949 
(Recognition of intellectual property rights) Scope:  Works, inventions, trademarks or 
trade names, in accordance with the law. n/a The Constitution recognizes that every author, inventor, 
producer or trader shall enjoy temporary exclusive 
ownership. 
Copyright and related rights   
Law No. 6683 of 14 October 1982 (Law on 
Copyright and Related Rights)   Decree No. 24611-J of 4 September 1995, as 
amended by Decree No. 26882-J of 20 April 
1998 (Regulations to the Law on Copyright and Related Rights)  
Law No. 7397 of 3 May 1994, Law No. 7686 
of 6 August 1997 and Law No. 7979 of 6 January 2000 (Amendments to Law No. 
6683) 
Decree No. 30151-J of 1 February 2002  Scope:  Literary and artistic works, i.e. all 
productions in the literary and artistic 
domain, whatever the form of expression thereof, including computer programs. Moral 
and economic rights are protected in both 
cases.
  
 For economic rights: the 
lifetime of the author (or last co-author) and 70 years 
following his death.  
Dictionaries, encyclopaedias and other works of joint 
authorship and anonymous 
or pseudonymous works:  70 years from the date of 
publication (i.e. from the 
date when the first edition goes on sale). Cinematographic works:  
70 years from the first public 
showing.  Related rights:  70 years of 
protection from 31December 
of the year of the fixation, performance  or broadcast.  Protection does not cover id eas, processes, operating 
methods or mathematical concepts per se .  Protection 
does not cover news of a factual nature; however, the 
medium used to reproduce or retransmit such news 
must indicate the original source.  Speeches delivered in deliber ative assemblies or at 
public meetings and pleadings before the courts may be 
published in the periodical press or broadcast on the radio or television without 
authorization; they may not, however, be published as 
separate editions or in a collection without the consent of the author.  
Law No. 7440 of November 1994 (Law on Public Performances)   Decree No. 26937-J of May 1998 
Scope:  Dissemination  and marketing of 
audiovisual and printed materials. n/a Public performances may not  be prohibited or restricted 
because of the ideas they c ontain;  they may, however, 
be prohibited or restricted  when the activity incites 
subversion, vice or crime, or religious, racial or 
nationality-based hatred, or wh en the content is strictly 
pornographic.  
Patents   
Law No. 6867 of 25 April 1983 (Law on 
Patents, Industrial Designs and Utility 
Models)  
Decree No. 15222-MIEM-J of 12 December 1983 (Regulations to the Law on Patents, 
Industrial Designs and Utility Models) 
Law No. 7979 of 6 January 2000 (Amendment to the Law on Patents, 
Industrial Designs and Utility Models)  
Decree No. 17602 of 11 May 1987 (Reform of the Regulations to the Law on Patents)   
Scope:  Any invention (i.e. any creation of 
the human intellect which can be applied in industry) which is new, involves an inventive step and is capable of industrial application.   
This includes pharmaceutical products and 
agricultural chemicals.  Twenty years from the date 
of filing an application. Non-
renewable. The following are not patentable: inventions, the 
commercial exploitation of which must be prevented in 
order to protect public order, morality, human, animal 
or plant life or health and the environment; diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical methods; plants and animals; 
and essentially biological pr ocedures for the production 
of plants and animals.   
The following are not deemed to be inventions:  
discoveries, scientific theo ries, mathematical methods 
and computer programmes taken in isolation;  purely aesthetic creations, literary and artistic works;  
economic plans, principles or methods for advertising 
or business and those pertaining to purely mental or intellectual activities or to games;  the juxtaposition of known inventions or mixtures of known products, the 
alteration of their form, use, dimensions or materials, 
except where the combination or fusion is in such a manner that the elements cannot function separately or 
where their characteristic qualities or functions are so 
modified as to obtain an industrial result that is not obvious to an expert in the matter.   
Compulsory licences may be granted in cases of 
insufficient use, dependent patents, anti-competitive practices or for reasons of extreme urgency, public 
interest or national em ergency or security.  
 
Table AIII.1 (cont'd) Costa Rica WT/TPR/S/180 
 Page 121 
 
 
Legislation and scope Duration Comments, limitations and exclusions 
Industrial designs and utility models    
As for patents. 
Scope:  New and original industrial designs 
obtained independently  (i.e. any composition 
of lines or colours, or any three-dimensional 
form, whether or not associated with lines or 
colours, provided that such composition or form gives a special appearance to a product 
of industry or handicraft and can serve as a 
model or pattern for its manufacture) and utility models (i.e. any new arrangement or 
shape obtained or introduced in known tools, 
work instruments or utensils, which improves their performance or provides them with a 
special function).  Ten years from the date of 
registration.  Does not include elements or characteristics of the 
industrial design which serve only to achieve a 
technical or functional effect. 
The following are not protected:  designs which are 
contrary to public order, morality or decency, on the 
condition that such exceptions do not unreasonably conflict with the normal expl oitation of the protected 
industrial design and do not unreasonably prejudice the 
legitimate interests of the ow ner of the protected design. 
Layout-designs of integrated circuits    
Law No. 7961 of 17 December 1999 (Law 
on Layout-Designs of Integrated Circuits) 
Scope:  Original layout-designs  (i.e. the 
three-dimensional di sposition, however 
expressed, of the elements, at least one of 
which is an active element, and of some or all of the interconnecti ons of an integrated 
circuit, or such a three-dimensional 
disposition prepared for an integrated circuit 
intended for manufacture).  Ten years from the last day 
of commercial exploitation 
or from the date of entry in 
the Register, whichever is 
earlier.  Compulsory licences may be granted under the same 
conditions as those applicable to patents.  
Trademarks and other distinctive signs   
Law No. 7978 of 6 January 2000 (Law on 
Trademarks and Other Distinctive Signs), 
Law No. 8020 of 6 September 2000 
(Amendment to Articles 94 and 95 of Law No. 7978 on Trademarks and Other 
Distinctive Signs and permanent funding for 
the publishers Editorial Costa Rica  and 
Editorial del Instituto Tecnológico de Costa 
Rica). 
Scope:  Any sign or combination of signs 
capable of distinguishing goods or services.  
Such signs may also consist of the shape, 
presentation or packaging of the products, 
their containers or wrapping, or the mode or place of sale of the corresponding products 
or services.  Ten years from the date 
granted. Renewable 
indefinitely for ten-year 
periods.   
 The following, in particular, may not be registered as 
trademarks: any sign consisting of a form that gives a 
functional or technical advantage to the product or 
service;  a common or usual designation for the product or service;  and any sign which could be used in trade to 
qualify or describe a characteristic of the product or 
service; which is not suff iciently distinctive with 
respect to the product or service;  which is contrary to 
public order or morality;  which contains an element 
that offends or ridicules persons, ideas, religions or national symbols of any count ry or international body;  
which could mislead or crea te confusion as to the 
geographical source, nature, method of manufacture, qualities, suitability for use or  consumption, quantity or 
any other characteristic of the product or service;  
which reproduces or imitates the shield, flag or other emblem, sign, name or abbreviation of the name of any 
State or international organization, without 
authorization;  or which reproduces or imitates an official control sign or guarantee adopted by a State or a 
public body without authorization. 
Some trademarks are also inadmissible because of 
third-party rights.   
Table AIII.1 (cont'd) WT/TPR/S/180 Trade Policy Review 
Page 122 
 
 
Legislation and scope Duration Comments, limitations and exclusions 
Geographical indications    
As for trademarks. 
Scope:  Geographical  indications in general 
and appellations of origin.  
An appellation of origin is a geographical 
name, designation, expr ession, image or sign 
of a country, region or locality, which serves 
to designate a product originating in the 
territory of a country, or in a region or locality of such terr itory, the quality or 
characteristics of which are due exclusively 
to the geographical environment in question, including natural and human factors.  Appellations of origin are 
registered for an indefinite duration.  No indication may be used that is liable to create 
confusion or error as to the geographical origin of the product.  
Expressions such as "kind", "type", "style", "imitation" 
or the like may not be used in the registration of trademarks. 
At the request of a person with a legitimate interest or 
ex officio, an appellation of origin may not be registered if it:  (a) does not conform to the definition of 
appellation of origin set forth in Article 2 of Law No. 
7978;  (b) is contrary to morality or public order or could mislead the public as to the geographical origin, 
nature, method of manufacture, characteristics or 
qualities or suitability for use or consumption of the products in question; (c) is the common or generic 
name of a product.  
All producers, manufacturers or craftsmen engaged in activities in the defined ge ographical area, including 
those who are not applying for registration, have the 
right to use the appellation of origin. 
Only the producers, manuf acturers and craftsmen 
authorized to use a registered appellation of origin 
commercially are allowed to use it with the expression 
"Appellation of Origin".   
Law No. 8063 of 22 December 2000 (Law 
on Identification of Costa Rican Bananas in 
International Markets)  Scope:  Export  bananas of Costa Rican 
origin n/a Incentives and exceptions ar e subject to the obligation 
to indicate the Costa Rican origin of the bananas.  
Undisclosed information   
Law No. 7975 of 4 January 2000 (Law on 
Undisclosed Information)  
Scope:  Protection of undisclosed 
information relating to commercial or 
industrial secrets.  
Undisclosed information relates, in particular, to the nature, characteristics or 
purpose of goods and to production methods 
or processes.  Permanent Protection does not cover:  
(a) information in the public domain; 
(b) information which is obvious to an expert in the field on the basis of previous ly available information;  
(c) information which must  be disclosed by legal 
provision or court order. 
Protection of intellectual rights relating to 
biodiversity    
Law No. 7788 of 30 April 1998 (Biodiversity 
Law) Scope: Components of biodiversity  which 
are under State sovereignty and processes 
and activities carried out under State jurisdiction or control. 
The State grants protection by means of, 
inter alia , patents, trade secrets, plant 
breeders' rights (PBRs), sui generis  
community intellectual rights, copyright and 
farmers' rights.   The Law does not cover access to biochemical or 
genetic material of human origin or the exchange among the indigenous people and local communities of 
biochemical or genetic resources or the associated 
knowledge resulting from non- profit making practices, 
uses or customs.  
Protection is not granted to sequences of 
deoxyribonucleic acid per se ; plants and animals; non-
genetically modified microorganisms; essentially 
biological processes for the production of plants and 
animals; natural processes or cycles; inventions essentially derived from knowledge associated with 
traditional or cultural biological practices in the public 
domain; and inventions which, if exploited commercially in the form of a monopoly, could affect 
agricultural processes or products that are considered 
fundamental for maintaining the food supply and health of the country's inhabitants.  
The Law establishes the registration procedure and 
licensing requirements for genetically modified organisms.  
n/a. Not applicable. 
Source : WTO Secretariat. 
 
 Costa Rica WT/TPR/S/180 
 Page 123 
 
 
 
 
Table AIV.1 
Products subject to access commitments with tariff quotas, 2005-2006 
Quota (tonnes) Final bound tariff Applied tariff 2006 
Product Tariff 
heading Final Imports 
2005 Quota 
administered 
in 2006a In-quota Out-of-
quota In-quota Out-of-
quota 
Meat of swine:  613.44  No     
Carcasses (whole) and 
half-carcasses 
 0203.11.00    45 45 45 45 
Hams, shoulders and 
cuts thereof, with bone 
in  0203.12.00    45 45 45 45 
Other  0203.19.00    45 45 45 45 
Carcasses (whole) and 
half-carcasses 0203.21.00    45 45 45 45 
Hams, shoulders and 
cuts thereof, with bone 
in 0203.22.00    45 45 45 45 
Other 0203.29.00    45 45 45 45 
- Of swine, fresh or 
chilled 0206.30.00    45 45 45 45 
Livers 0206.41.00    45 45 0b 0b 
Other 0206.49.00    45 45 45 45 
- Pig fat 0209.00.10    45 45 5b 5b 
- Other pig fat 0209.00.20    45 45 5b 5b 
Hams, shoulders and 
cuts thereof, with bone 
in 0210.11.00    45 45 45 45 
Bellies (streaky) and 
cuts thereof  0210.12.00    45 45 45 45 
Other 0210.19.00    45 45 5b 5b 
Poultry and poultry 
products;  cuts and offal 
of poultry:  1,284.10 0.00 Yes     
- Other 0207.39.00    55 233.07 34 150 
- Of fowls of the species 
Gallus domesticus  0207.41.00    55 233.07 35;  40 35;  40 
Poultry, not cut in 
pieces, and poultry fat:  642.05  No     
- Poultry, not cut in 
pieces, fresh or chilled  0207.10.00    45 45 40 40 
Fowls of the species 
Gallus domesticus  0207.21.00    45 45 40 40 
Turkeys 0207.22.00    45 45 40 40 
Ducks, geese and guinea 
fowls 0207.23.00    45 45 14 14 
- Poultry fat 0209.00.30    45 45 14b 14b 
Poultry livers, salted or 
in brine  0210.90.10    45 45 9; 14b,c 9; 14b,c 
Poultry livers, dried or 
smoked  0210.90.20    45 45 9; 14b,c 9; 14b,c 
Milk and cream, not 
concentrated nor containing added sugar 
or other sweetening 
matter 0401 405.00 0.00 Yes 94.7 94.7 34 65 
Table AIV.1 (cont'd) WT/TPR/S/180 Trade Policy Review 
Page 124 
 
 
Quota (tonnes) Final bound tariff Applied tariff 2006 
Product Tariff 
heading Final Imports 
2005 Quota 
administered 
in 2006a In-quota Out-of-
quota In-quota Out-of-
quota 
Milk and cream, 
concentrated or containing added sugar 
or other sweetening matter (excluding 
condensed and 
evaporated milk) 0402 344.20 0.00 Yes 94.7 94.7 24 - 34 65 
Evaporated milk 0402.91.10 1,124.52  No 94.7 94.7 9 9 
Condensed milk 0402.99.10 2,563.13  No 94.7 94.7 9b 9b 
Buttermilk, curdled milk 
and cream, yogurt, 
kephir and other fermented or acidified 
milk and cream, whether 
or not concentrated or containing added sugar 
or other sweetening 
matter or flavoured or containing added fruit, 
nuts or cocoa  
0403  
50.00  
0.00  
Yes  
94.7  
94.7  
34  
65 
Whey, whether or not 
concentrated or 
containing added sugar 
or other sweetening 
matter; products consisting of natural 
milk constituents, 
whether or not containing added sugar 
or other sweetening 
matter, not elsewhere specified or included 
  
0404  
253.00   
No  
94.7  
94.7  
0;  9
b,c   
0;  9b,c 
Butter and other fats and 
oils derived from milk  
0405  
45.00  
0.00  
Yes  
45;  
94.7  
45;  94.7  
34  
65 
Cheese and curd 
(excluding headings for 
Cheddar-type cheese, dehydrated, green- or 
blue-veined and other 
cheese) 0406 375.01 174.60 Yes 35;  
50;  
94.7 35;  50;  
94.7 34 65 
Cheddar-type cheese, 
dehydrated 0406.20.10 55.00  No 35 35 0b 0b 
Other 0406.20.90 50.00  No 35 35 35b 35b 
Green- or blue-veined 
cheese 0406.40.00 0.06  No 50 50 14b 14b 
Other cheese 0406.90.00 50.00  No 50 50 50b 50b 
Eggs:  938.83  No     
Fertile eggs for 
reproduction  0407.00.10    5 5 0b 0b 
Ostrich eggs 0407.00.20    45 45 9b 9b 
Other 0407.00.90    45 45 14b 14b 
Dried 0408.11.00    45 45 9b 9b 
Other 0408.19.00    45 45 9b 9b 
Dried 0408.91.00    45 45 9b 9b 
Other 0408.99.00    45 45 9b 9b 
Table AIV.1 (cont'd) Costa Rica WT/TPR/S/180 
 Page 125 
 
 
Quota (tonnes) Final bound tariff Applied tariff 2006 
Product Tariff 
heading Final Imports 
2005 Quota 
administered 
in 2006a In-quota Out-of-
quota In-quota Out-of-
quota 
Kidney beans 
(Phaseolus vulgaris ) 0713.33.00 1,465.00  No 45 45 5; 10b,c 5; 10b,c 
Yellow maize 1005.90.20 62,956.00  No 15 15 0b 0b 
White maize 1005.90.30 5,761.00  No 35 35 14b 14b 
Rice:  9,067.36  No     
For sowing 1006.10.10    45 45 0b 0b 
Other 1006.10.90    35 35 35b 35b 
- Husked (brown) rice 1006.20.00    35 35 35b 35b 
- Semi-milled or wholly 
milled rice, whether or 
not polished or glazed 1006.30.00    35 35 35b 35b 
- Broken rice 1006.40.00    35 35 35b 35b 
Lard:  75.00  No     
-Lard; other pig fat and 
poultry fat, rendered, whether or not pressed 
or solvent-extracted  1501.00.00    45 45 14b 14b 
Lard stearin and lard oil 1503.00.10    45 45 14b 14b 
Other 1503.00.90    45 45 0b 0b 
- Sausages and similar 
products, of meat, meat 
offal or blood; food preparations based on 
these products:    
150.00  
3.63  
Yes     
- With meat and meat 
offal of poultry of 
heading 0105  1601.00.20   Yes 233.07 233.07 29 150 
-Homogenized 
preparations:   150.00 0.00 Yes     
- With meat and meat 
offal of poultry of 
heading 0105 1602.10.20    233.07 233.07 19 150 
- Of poultry of heading 
0105:   150.00  No     
- Other 1602.39.00    233.07 233.07 40b 40b 
Preparations:  596.88  No     
With meat and meat 
offal of swine  1601.00.30    45 45 35b 35b 
With meat and meat 
offal of swine 1602.10.30    45 45 14b 14b 
Hams and cuts thereof  1602.41.00    45 45 35b 35b 
Shoulders and cuts 
thereof 1602.42.00    45 45 35b 35b 
Pig skin, dried, cooked 
and pressed  1602.49.10    45 45 5b 5b 
Other 1602.49.90    45 45 35b 35b 
Sugar:  7,698.61  No     
Cane sugar 1701.11.00    45 45 45b 45b 
Beet sugar  1701.12.00    45 45 45b 45b 
Containing added 
flavouring or colouring 
matter  1701.91.00    45 45 45b 45b 
Other 1701.99.00    45 45 45 45 
Ice cream 2105.00.00 725.00 109.03 Yes 94.7 94.7 39 65 
Table AIV.1 (cont'd) WT/TPR/S/180 Trade Policy Review 
Page 126 
 
 
Quota (tonnes) Final bound tariff Applied tariff 2006 
Product Tariff 
heading Final Imports 
2005 Quota 
administered 
in 2006a In-quota Out-of-
quota In-quota Out-of-
quota 
Tobacco:  82.19  No     
- Tobacco, not 
stemmed/stripped  2401.10.00    45 45 0;  5b,c 0;  5b,c 
- Tobacco, partly or 
wholly 
stemmed/stripped  2401.20.00    45 45 0;  5b,c 0;  5b,c 
- Tobacco refuse 2401.30.00    45 45 0;  5b,c 0;  5b,c 
- Smoking tobacco, 
whether or not 
containing tobacco substitutes  in any 
proportion  
2403.10.00     
40  
40  
14b  
14b 
"Homogenized" or 
"reconstituted" tobacco 2403.91.00    40 40 0b 0b 
Other 2403.99.00    40 40 5b 5b 
Woven fabrics of jute or 
of other textile bast 
fibres of heading 5303  5310 53.63  No 45 45 9b 9b 
Note: The tariff rate has been applied sinc e November 1995 in accordance with the Protoc ol of Accession.  The tariff rate appli cable 
since November 1995 has not exceeded 40 per cen t, in accordance with the Protocol of Ac cession.  The tariff rate applied since 
November 1995 has not exceeded 50 per cent, in accordance with the Protocol of Accession.  
a The information provided by the authorities mentions that WTO quotas were administer ed for the following products:  cuts and 
offal of chicken; liquid milk; powdered milk ;  yogurt and other fermented milks;  butte r and other fats and oils; cheese;  saus ages 
and homogenized preparations of poultry of heading 0105; and ice cream.  The HS tariff codes were not stated.  
b Application of MFN rate;  there are ther efore no in-quota or out-of-quota rates.  
c Application of either one or othe other of  the two rates to certain ten-digit lines. 
Source:  Prepared by the WTO Secretariat on the basis of information from sections I-A and I-B of Costa Rica's Schedule LXXXV and 
data provided by the authorities. 
  Costa Rica WT/TPR/S/180 
 Page 127 
 
 
Table AIV.2 
Summary of Costa Rica's specific commitments under the GATSa 
   Market access National treatment 
 Modes of supply:          
  Cross border supply 1    1    
  Consumption abroad  2    2   
  Commercial presence   3    3  
  Presence of natural persons    4    4 
Commitments (■ full;  ◨ partial;  □ no commitment;  - does not appear in Schedule) 
Horizontalb □ □ ■ ◨ □ □ □ ◨ 
Commitments in specific sectors          
1. Business services         
 A. Professional services − − − − − − − − 
 B. Computer and related services, exclusively:         
 a. Consultancy services related to the installation of   
computer hardware  □ ■ □ ◨ □ ■ □ □ 
 b. Software implementation services □ ■ □ ◨ □ ■ □ □ 
 c. Data-processing services □ ■ □ ◨ □ ■ □ □ 
 d. Database services □ ■ □ ◨ □ ■ □ □ 
 C. Research and development services − − − − − − − − 
 D. Real-estate services − − − − − − − − 
 E. Rental/leasing services without operators − − − − − − − − 
 F. Other business services  − − − − − − − − 
2. Communication services − − − − − − − − 
3. Construction services  − − − − − − − − 
4. Distribution services  − − − − − − − − 
5. Educational services         
 A. Primary education services □ ■ □ □ □ ■ □ □ 
 B. Secondary education services □ ■ □ □ □ ■ □ □ 
 C. Higher education services □ □ ◨ ◨ □ □ □ ◨ 
 D. Adult education − − − − − − − − 
 E. Other education services − − − − − − − − 
6. Environmental services  − − − − − − − − 
7. Financial services         
 A. Insurance and insu rance-related services − − − − − − − − 
 B. Banking and other financ ial services, exclusively:         
 a.  Acceptance of deposits and other funds  □ □ ◨ □ □ □ ■ □ 
 b. Lending of all types □ □ ◨ □ □ □ ■ □ 
 c.  Credit card services □ □ ◨ □ □ □ ■ □ 
 d. Supply and transfer of financial information  ■ ■ ◨ □ ■ ■ ■ □ 
 e.  Financial leasing services  □ □ ◨ □ □ □ ■ □ 
 C. Other − − − − − − − − 
8. Health-related and social services         
 A. Hospital services □ ■ □ □ □ ■ □ □ 
Table AIV.2 (cont'd) WT/TPR/S/180 Trade Policy Review 
Page 128 
 
 
   Market access National treatment 
 Modes of supply:          
  Cross border supply 1    1    
  Consumption abroad  2    2   
  Commercial presence   3    3  
  Presence of natural persons    4    4 
 B. Other human health services □ ■ □ ◨ □ ■ □ ◨ 
 C. Social services  − − − − − − − − 
 D. Other  − − − − − − − − 
9. Tourism and travel-related services          
 A. Hotels and restaurants         
 a.  Hotels and other lodging services □ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ □ 
 b. Catering services □ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ □ 
 B. Travel agency and tour operator services □ □ ◨ □ □ □ ◨ □ 
 C. Tourist guide services □ ■ □ □ □ ■ □ □ 
 D. Other, exclusively:         
 a.  Car leasing or rental services □ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ □ 
 b. Tourist boat rental services □ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ □ 
 c.  Computer reservation services □ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ □ 
10. Recreational and sporting services − − − − − − − − 
11. Transport services − − − − − − − − 
12. Other services − − − − − − − − 
a The only authentic source of information on these commitments is  Costa Rica's Schedule of Specific Commitments, set forth in 
documents  GATS/SC/22 (15 April 1994) a nd GATS/SC/22/Suppl.1 (26 February 1998). 
b Applicable only to services included in  Costa Rica's Schedule of Commitments. 
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
__________