Costa Rican Deputy conditions TPP vote on agricultural protections

Costa Rican Deputy José Miguel Villalobos has stated that his support for the country’s potential accession to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is conditional. Speaking at the 70th anniversary of the San Carlos Livestock Chamber, Villalobos, who chairs the Legislative Assembly's International Relations Commission, emphasized that he will not vote for the agreement unless it includes protections for the nation's productive sectors, specifically farmers and ranchers.

Costa Rica formally applied for membership in August 2022. While substantive negotiations concluded in May 2026, the process still requires the completion of an Incorporation Protocol and legal review before the Executive branch can submit it to the Legislative Assembly, a step expected in November. The potential entry has faced scrutiny from agricultural sectors concerned about domestic producers' ability to compete with goods from other member nations.