I am showing this photo of a typical sugar cane field near Tamarindo to share some economic news that was in the newspaper recently. Last year sugar exports from Costa Rica nearly doubled.Costa Rica is also a worldwide leader in exporting pineapples and bananas. Coffee is another leading export crop. High technology and medical product exports now have a greater dollar value than agricultural exports, with the USA being the largest trading partner for Costa Rica.
The increased exports are due in part to Costa Rica voting to ratify the Central American Free Trade Act (CAFTA), which also required that Costa Rica reduce import duties for foreign goods coming into the country. Farmers worried about imports competing with their goods forced a national vote on CAFTA and Costa Rica is the only country to approve a free trade treaty by a vote of the people.
This week we are showing photos from Tanzania, featuring great wildlife shots that my wife took on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.
Interesting that the exports have increased. There is certainly furtile land available to grow these crops.
ReplyDeleteInformative post this morning.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post. The issue of trade barriers continues to be controversial and you might get some "anti" comments from folks who think Costa Rica is taking American jobs away. My thinking is that trade should be free and everyone benefits when goods and services migrate to whoever can produce most efficiently.
ReplyDeleteI applaud their marvelous coffee. I always buy it when available.
ReplyDeletei have not seen sugar cane fields in years
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