U.S./COSTA RICA RELATIONS

The United States and Costa Rica have a history of close and friendly relations based on respect for democratic government, human freedoms, free trade, and other shared values. The country generally supports the U.S. in international fora, especially in the areas of democracy and human rights.

The United States is Costa Rica’s most important trading partner.  The U.S. accounts for almost half of Costa Rica’s exports, imports, and tourism, and more than two-thirds of its foreign investment. The two countries share growing concerns for the environment and want to preserve Costa Rica’s important tropical resources and prevent environmental degradation.

In 2007, the United States reduced Costa Rica’s debt in exchange for protection and conservation of Costa Rican forests through a debt for nature swap under the auspices of the Tropical Forest Conservation Act.

The United States responded to Costa Rica’s economic needs in the 1980s with significant economic and development assistance programs. Through provision of more than $1.1 billion in assistance, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) supported Costa Rican efforts to stabilize its economy and broaden and accelerate economic growth through policy reforms and trade liberalization.

Assistance initiatives in the 1990s concentrated on democratic policies, modernizing the administration of justice, and sustainable development. Once the country had graduated from most forms of U.S. assistance, the USAID Mission in Costa Rica closed in 1996. However, USAID completed a $9 million project in 2000-01 to support refugees of Hurricane Mitch residing in Costa Rica.

For decades, Peace Corps volunteers have provided technical assistance in the areas of environmental education, natural resources, management, small business development, microfinance, basic business  education, urban youth, and community education.

Over 50,000 private American citizens, including many retirees, reside in the country and more than
700,000 American citizens visit Costa Rica annually. A few vexing expropriation and U.S. citizen investment disputes have hurt Costa Rica’s investment climate and have occasionally produced bilateral friction.

The U.S.-Costa Rica Maritime Cooperation Agreement, the first of its kind in Central America, entered into force in late 1999. The agreement, which facilitates cooperation between the Coast Guard of Costa Rica and the U.S. Coast Guard, has resulted in a growing number of narcotics seizures, illegal migrant rescues, illegal fishing seizures, and search-and-rescue missions. Bilateral Costa Rican law enforcement cooperation, particularly against narcotics trafficking, has been exemplary.

Principal U.S. Embassy Officials

Ambassador–Anne Slaughter Andrew
Deputy Chief of Mission–Peter M. Brennan (replacement is Eric Nelson, arrival September 2010)
Political/Economic Counselor–Julie Schechter-Torres
Economic Officer–Mark Kissel
Consul General–Paul Birdsall
Management Counselor–Brian Wilson
Public Affairs Counselor–Mark S. Tauber
Defense Representative–Commander Russ Bowen, USCG (acting)
Commercial Attache–Bryan Smith
Agricultural Attache–Kevin Smith
APHIS–Eric Hoffman
Environmental Hub–Timothy Lattimer
Regional Security Officer–S. Wade DeWitt
Drug Enforcement Administration–Phil Springer
Food and Drug Administration–Paul Seligman
Peace Corps Director–Steven Dorsey
OFDA Director–Tim Callaghan

The U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica is located in Pavas at Boulevard Pavas and Calle 120, San Jose.
tel. (506) 519-2000 or (506) 220-3127.

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