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Costa Rica may miss Oct. 1 deadline for joining DR-CAFTA

September 16, 2008
World Trade\Interactive

A recent ruling by the Costa Rican supreme court has put the country in danger of missing an Oct. 1 deadline to implement the U.S.-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement. The court ruled that an intellectual property law recently passed by the legislature, the last statutory change needed before DR-CAFTA could take effect, was invalid because required consultations with indigenous groups did not take place. Costa Rican officials are exploring what options they have in order to meet the Oct. 1 deadline, which observers say is unlikely to be extended.