Trade Association Agreement between Ecuador and Costa Rica

International treaty between the Republic of Ecuador and the Republic of Costa Rica establishing a legal framework to strengthen economic integration, facilitate bilateral trade and improve market access for goods and services. It includes commitments on national treatment and market access, tariff elimination, rules of origin and origin procedures, trade facilitation and customs procedures, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, investment, electronic commerce and government procurement. In the agri-food sector, the agreement facilitates trade in agricultural and food products through preferential market access, origin certification procedures and sanitary and phytosanitary cooperation mechanisms aimed at protecting human, animal and plant health while avoiding unnecessary trade restrictions. It includes a dedicated chapter on micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to promote their participation in international trade, as well as provisions on gender, good regulatory practices and cooperation. The agreement entered into force on October 1, 2024.