The Government of the United States of America through the Office of Trade Representative (USTR) has removed Costa Rica from the list the countries under surveillance regarding the protection of intellectual property rights. As stated by the Office’s Special 301 Report, which is issued every year to assess the regulations and actions of its commercial partners concerning this matter.
The 2020 Special 301 Report has recognized our nation’s recent progress for building a legal framework that complies with the highest international standards, also improving the systems of protection, registration, and enforcement of intellectual property rights, by allocating resources and the implementing policies that improve its institutional capacity.
The Costa Rican Minister of Justice and Peace, Fiorella Salazar, has confirmed the change of status, stating, “This achievement makes us very proud since it is the result of coordinated, tenacious, and diligent work for many years, by which the institutions that comprise the Interinstitutional Commission for the Protection of Intellectual Property joined forces with judicial authorities and strengthened institutional capabilities that service an effective application and compliance with current regulations.”
For her part, the Minister of Foreign Trade, Dyalá Jiménez Figueres, expressed her satisfaction with the news, commenting, “Over the years, Costa Rica has demonstrated a commitment to the development of a solid framework that protects intellectual property, and encourages innovation and creation of knowledge, thus increasing productivity and attracting sophisticated direct investments, and promoting the transition towards a knowledge-based economy that continues to grow over the long term.”
Costa Rica was on the watch list since 1995. Since then, the country has implemented concrete actions, to improve the regulatory framework and ensure adequate protection of intellectual property rights on the national market.
The United States Ambassador to Costa Rica, Sharon Day, manifested her “Congratulations to the Costa Rican nation for this important progress to strengthen protection and compliance with intellectual property rights. Thanks to the approach and dedication of Minister Jiménez, the COMEX team, and Costa Rican leaders, for the first time in 25 years, Costa Rica is not included in the Special 301 Report, as prepared by the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Our Embassy hopes to continue the cooperation and efforts between our two countries, so that Costa Rica may continue to be a place where American business and creative ideas can prosper.”
