Generalizes on the best strategy to enter the market, e.g., visiting the country; importance of relationships to finding a good partner; use of agents.
Last Published: 10/18/2019
Companies should consider their own resources, previous export or business experience abroad, and long-term business strategy before entering the Costa Rican market.  Nevertheless, U.S. products and services enjoy an excellent reputation, and Costa Rica is an attractive market for U.S. companies.  One of the most common market entry options is finding a local agent or distributor.  Other approaches include licensing, franchising, and identifying local partners for market knowledge and contacts.

The U.S. Department of Commerce, United States Foreign Commercial Service (USFCS) offers customized solutions to help U.S. companies, including small- and medium-sized enterprises, succeed in Costa Rica.  Given the regional nature of this market, this will often include consideration of market opportunities in other Central America countries as well.  USFCS stands ready to help U.S. companies develop comprehensive market entry or expansion plans, also learn about export- and customs-related requirements, obtain export financing, and identify potential partners, agents, and distributors through business matchmaking programs, trade shows, and trade missions led by senior U.S. Government officials. For U.S. companies that purchase our Gold Key Service, USFCS can facilitate one-on-one meetings with: pre-screened buyers; potential customers or end-users; experienced professional services providers; and key government officials. Furthermore, by engaging USFCS, U.S. companies can learn how to leverage high-level bilateral policy discussions. With these tools, explained in greater detail, in this Country Commercial Guide, U.S. companies will be better positioned to take advantage of opportunities in Costa Rica and throughout Central America.

In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) provides equivalent-level trade services at no cost for U.S. companies interested in exporting agricultural, fishery, and forestry products through their Agricultural Trade Offices. FAS works with USDA agencies and other U.S. food safety-related agencies (the United States Food and Drug Administration) to coordinate the U.S. response to newly arising sanitary, phytosanitary, and technical barriers to trade, such as identifying and resolving challenges posed by new procedures introduced at port or acquiring, translating, and coordinating the U.S. response to draft regulations that could affect U.S. exports.
 
Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.


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Costa Rica Trade Development and Promotion