Costa Rica Commercial relations: United States - China

Population: 4.5 million people Territory: 51,000 m2 No army Historical priorities: education and health

Source: CINDE. Key Economic Indicators 2012.

This information is available on: $7,480, countries= 69% imports Total of imports: $13,030, / more than 30 countries ~ 50% of total

US Million Description Petroleum products$1,078.7$1,590.4$1,026.7$1,291.7$2,005.7 Integrated circuits and microelectronic structure $1,538.3$1,479.4$1,084.9$1,165.0$1,266.9 Printed circuit boards$427.6$406.2$395.5$406.8$589.4 Cars$462.3$464.3$245.8$399.1$508.0 Drugs$369.2$427.4$403.7$451.0$434.2 Telephones$140.1$214.6$201.2$216.8$429.4 Data processors$163.3$166.5$187.7$196.8$219.5 Corn$143.8$190.5$131.3$143.6$201.3 Parts for data processors$86.0$267.6$156.1$212.6$174.3 Paper and cardboard$185.8$169.4$132.7$164.0$161.6 Medical instruments$108.4$106.9$118.0$153.1$145.2 Copper wire$111.9$131.7$61.5$110.2$140.6 Electric wires$104.1$119.6$95.7$112.8$137.7 Insecticide, fungicide and other plaguicides$114.9$130.4$125.1$141.7$136.6 Vehicles for merchandising transportation$177.3$207.3$104.8$110.4$134.4

US Million Description Plastic articles for packaging$85.8$94.0$84.1$114.2$130.2 Soy$107.0$112.8$100.1$113.9$127.8 Intermed products of steel and iron$88.9$120.3$10.4$91.1$122.3 Other plastic manufacturing$75.6$88.8$89.5$112. 3$119.9 Crude petroleum$350.4$468.9$208.2$300.8$117.2 Polymers of ethylene in basic forms$107.6$120.6$82.2$108.7$110.8 Monitors and projectors$81.5$85.0$66.0$93.6$109.3 Other alimentary preparations$66.3$88.8$90.6$93.5$108.9 Nitrogenous mineral or chemical fertilizers$52.8$128.0$52.3$48.3$108.5 Antisera, vaccines and human blood$17.2$37.5$31.2$42.4$107.2 Others$6,702.4$7,955.0$6,110.1$7,175.3$8,369.1 Total $12,947.2$15,372.0$11,395.1$13,569.6$16,215.9

US Million Country United States$5,030.8$6,184.9$4,801.9$6,368.0$7,745.3 China$763.3$887.5$711.8$989.1$1,297.5 Mexico$736.5$950.3$72.8$894.4$1,091.1 Japan$731.6$818.6$602.2$496.3$548.5 Colombia$307.7$402.9$315.2$500.3$455.6 Guatemala$247.1$299.5$276.8$323.3$383.7 Brazil$419.5$425.1$267.0$294.1$335.0 Germany$203.4$271.2$202.8$308.1$325.8 Panama$223.8$242.4$216.3$233.5$289.4 Chile$183.8$207.2$172.6$219.1$257.9 South Korea$250.9$280.8$140.7$148.2$218.3 El Salvador$132.1$151.2$120.3$152.4$196.4 Canada$117.0$160.0$103.5$115.4$180.4 Spain$140.6$149.0$112.8$144.9$ % 54%

US Million Country Italy$138.8$147.5$104.0$142.7$166.2 Honduras$69.4$90.1$82.5$109.3$139.0 India$40.2$50.1$47.4$107.5$132.8 Nicaragua$93.0$106.2$85.2$89.8$121.9 Switzerland$104.8$139.2$126.0$133.5$117.2 Israel$30.8$43.4$137.8$112.4$103.2 United Kingdom$104.7$118.6$72.9$99.1$102.1 Trinidad and Tobago$67.9$51.7$59.6$162.4$98.6 Taiwan$162.3$143.8$89.4$87.0$91.9 Belgium$67.8$82.7$59.6$65.3$88.0 Netherland$189.3$258.4$133.3$83.0$86.3 Others$2,390.3$2,709.4$1,611.1$1,190.4$1,467.6 Total $12,947.2$15,372.0$11,395.1$13,569.6$16,215.9

US Million Years Source:

Years This information is available on: US Million

In 2011 China and Costa Rica signed a Free Trade Agreement. 90% of both countries’ products enjoy cero tariff. Exports to China have grown an average 28.5% and imports have grown 29.1% every year from 2000 to 2011.

Exports 2011: $199.7 million Products: Microprocessors Sockets Plugs and sockets (outlets) Citrus, prepared or preserved Timber Copper waste and scrap Bovine and equine leather Electrical parts Parts of seats Aluminum waste and scrap

Importation 2011: $1,297.9 million Products: Cellular phone parts Tricycles and similar toys Routers Footwear Computers Beans Microchips Base stations

Current situation The Free Trade Agreement began a new era of trade relations between Costa Rica and China. Costa Rica is currently working on promoting, identifying and exploiting opportunities for trade and investment with this partner.

Textile industry Light industry Machinery Electronics Vegetables and fruits Cars Chemicals Hide and leather

Coffee Pork Pineapple juice Frozen orange juice Jam Fish Powder Minerals Hides

Computer Real estate Market research Translation and interpretation

Telecommunication Commercial Construction Real estate Distribution Education Environment Computers Tourism

A lot of product options Lower prices Vast possibilities for product exchange Big market for our local products

Reputation of lower quality in some products High cost of transportation and internationalization procedures Retailers are not always willing to receive new products You must buy large quantities of products Risk – new products / new partners

The United States is Costa Rica’s most important trading partner. Globalization creates rapid changes: new products, new competitors, new trade possibilities. Context and economy will determine outcomes: economic crisis, consumer behavior, market tendencies.

China is searching new commercial possibilities in Latin America and Africa. New countries are emerging as a manufacturing source: Costa Rica’s imports and exports have been increasing considerably due to the local Intel factory.

Most valuable criteria for international trade: Quality Price Production capacity Opportunity of deliverance Cost of transportation Reputation of the manufacturing

Questions and comments… Websites: Contact information: Harold Hütt Herrera address: Universidad de Costa Rica