2021 part 1

8/ Costa Rica initiates dispute complaint against food import restrictions imposed by Panama

14 JANUARY 2021

Costa Rica has requested WTO dispute consultations with Panama regarding measures imposed by Panama that restrict or prohibit the import of products such as strawberries, dairy products, meat products, pineapples and bananas from Costa Rica. The request was circulated to WTO members on 14 January.

Costa Rica claims the import restrictions are inconsistent with provisions under the WTO’s Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994.

Further information is available in document WT/DS599/1

What is a request for consultations?

The request for consultations formally initiates a dispute in the WTO. Consultations give the parties an opportunity to discuss the matter and to find a satisfactory solution without proceeding further with litigation. After 60 days, if consultations have failed to resolve the dispute, the complainant may request adjudication by a panel.

Source: wto.org