China, Costa
Rica In Third Round Of Trade Talks
China pressed Costa Rica on Monday for a
wider opening of its market in a third round
of talks towards a free trade treaty which
negotiators aim to complete this year,
officials said.
Costa Rica - which gave up six decades of
ties with Taiwan in favor of China two years
ago - is the third Latin American country to
negotiate a free trade deal with China after
Chile and Peru.
Costa Rica's chief negotiator, Fernando
Ocampo, said the government had consulted
with companies to prepare an improved offer
for China.
"We have entered the phase of discussing
sensitive issues across the board," Ocampo
said.
Zhu Hong, the head of the Chinese
delegation, told reporters that China is
urging Costa Rica to return to an earlier
offer, which includes 70% of Chinese
products entering the country tax-free over
a five to 10-year period.
China, in turn, is offering a tax-free
opening for 94.5% of Costa Rican products,
excluding sugar, meat and coffee.
Trade between the two countries has grown
rapidly, from $91.1 million in 2000 to $1.6
billion in 2007, according to the Costa
Rican government figures.
A major exporter of computer components,
Costa Rica has dismissed fears of an
invasion of Chinese products into the
country as it seeks to diversify ties amid
worldwide financial woes.
After the current round of talks, Costa
Rican and Chinese negotiators are scheduled
to hold three more rounds in September,
October, and either November or December.
"We just celebrated the second anniversary
of the establishment of diplomatic
relations. Since then we've advanced a lot
in all areas," Wan Xiaoyuan, the Chinese
ambassador to San Jose, said at the opening
of the three-day talks.
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