Canada-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement

Preamble

The Government of Canada and the Government of the Republic of Costa Rica, resolved to:

Strengthen the special bonds of friendship and cooperation among their peoples;

Contribute to the harmonious development and expansion of world and regional trade and provide a catalyst to broader international cooperation;

Create new employment opportunities and improve working conditions and living standards in their respective territories;

Recognize the differences in the level of development and the size of the Parties=economies and create opportunities for economic development;

Create an expanded and secure market for the goods and services produced in their territories;

Reduce distortions to trade;

Establish clear and mutually advantageous rules governing their trade;

Ensure a predictable commercial framework for business planning and investment;

Recognize the importance of trade facilitation in promoting efficient and transparent procedures to reduce costs, and to ensure predictability, for importers and exporters of the Parties;

Build on their respective rights and obligations under the WTO Agreement and other multilateral and bilateral instruments of cooperation;

Promote regional integration with an instrument that will contribute to the establishment of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA);

Enhance the competitiveness of their firms in global markets;

Ensure that the benefits of trade liberalization are not undermined by anticompetitive activities;

Promote sustainable development;

Undertake each of the preceding in a manner consistent with environmental protection and conservation;

Preserve their flexibility to safeguard the public welfare;

Recognize that States have the ability to preserve, develop and implement their cultural policies for the purpose of strengthening cultural diversity; and

Recognize the increased cooperation between our countries on labour and environmental cooperation;

Have agreed as follows: