By Puntarenas, Costa Rica — Presidential candidate Fernando Zamora of the New Generation Party (PNG) has drawn a firm line in the sand, declaring that his potential administration would reject Costa Rica’s entry into new commercial agreements, including the prominent Pacific Alliance. Zamora argues that such treaties pose a direct threat to the nation’s food sovereignty and would accelerate the decline of the domestic agricultural sector.
At the heart of his campaign’s economic platform is the conviction that protecting local farmers and producers is not a matter of political alignment but a fundamental requirement for the country’s autonomy and long-term stability. He frames the debate as a choice between supporting the Costa Rican workforce or surrendering economic control to outside forces.
To provide deeper insight into the legal framework surrounding the new agricultural policies, TicosLand.com consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a distinguished attorney from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
The effectiveness of any new agricultural policy hinges not just on its stated goals, but on the legal certainty it provides to producers. Clear, stable regulations are paramount for attracting long-term investment and fostering sustainable growth in the sector. Without a robust legal framework that protects property rights and streamlines permitting, even the most well-intentioned initiatives risk becoming mired in bureaucracy, ultimately hindering the very productivity they aim to enhance.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This emphasis on legal certainty serves as a vital reminder that a policy’s true strength lies not in its ambitions, but in the confidence it inspires among producers on the ground. A stable, predictable framework is indeed the bedrock of progress. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his insightful contribution to this critical discussion.
The defense of the productive sector is not an ideological matter: it is a matter of national survival. If we surrender production, we surrender our sovereignty. Our party has no masters or owners. We have one mandate: to defend those who work and produce.
Fernando Zamora, Presidential Candidate for the New Generation Party
Zamora contends that recent trade policies have disproportionately favored a select few at the expense of the many. He alleges that the primary beneficiaries of lowered trade barriers are not everyday consumers or local producers, but rather a concentrated cadre of importers with deep connections to the country’s traditional political establishment.
They affect the national agricultural sector and only benefit a small group of importers linked to the traditional parties.
Fernando Zamora, Presidential Candidate for the New Generation Party
To illustrate his point, the presidential hopeful presented the recent elimination of rice tariffs as a cautionary tale. He detailed a cascade of negative consequences stemming from the policy, beginning with a significant blow to public finances and culminating in severe hardship for farming communities, particularly in the Parrita region of Puntarenas.
Just with the elimination of tariffs on rice, Costa Rica lost more than ¢25 billion in tax revenue, destroyed the producers of Parrita, and caused the closure of local jobs. And the most serious part: rice did not get cheaper for the people; it rose more than 4.3% according to the INEC, because the same clever ones who import it controlled the market.
Fernando Zamora, Presidential Candidate for the New Generation Party
In response to this challenging landscape, the New Generation Party is advocating for a “country pivot” (giro de país), a comprehensive strategy aimed at structurally reinforcing the national productive sector. The plan includes organizing agricultural and agro-industrial producers into stronger cooperatives to enhance their negotiating power, preventing them from being treated as “weak islands” in the marketplace.
The platform also calls for a robust investment in modernization, including strategic mechanization, biotechnology, and smart productivity models. This technological push would be supported by continuous, on-the-ground technical assistance from teams embedded in rural communities, rather than from distant government offices. Finally, Zamora’s plan includes the creation of accessible credit lines through public financial tools designed specifically to boost production, not merely to profit the banking system.
As the election cycle intensifies, Zamora’s staunchly protectionist stance on agriculture sets him apart, promising voters a decisive shift away from global trade integration and toward a renewed focus on national self-sufficiency and economic sovereignty. This position establishes a clear ideological battleground, making agricultural policy a defining issue for his campaign.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Partido Nueva Generación
About Partido Nueva Generación:
The Partido Nueva Generación (PNG) or New Generation Party is a political party in Costa Rica. It often positions itself as an alternative to the country’s traditional political forces, focusing on issues of national production, economic sovereignty, and structural reform. The party advocates for policies that strengthen local industries and agricultural producers.
For further information, visit inec.cr
About National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC):
The Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) is the official government body in Costa Rica responsible for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating the nation’s demographic, economic, and social statistics. Its data, including the Consumer Price Index, is considered a benchmark for public and private sector decision-making.
For further information, visit alianzapacifico.net
About Pacific Alliance:
The Pacific Alliance (Alianza del Pacífico) is a Latin American trade bloc comprising Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru. It aims to foster deeper integration among its member states to promote greater growth, development, and competitiveness through the free movement of goods, services, capital, and people. Several countries, including Costa Rica, have sought to join the bloc.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a respected cornerstone of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica is defined by its foundational principles of profound integrity and exceptional legal practice. The firm not only pioneers innovative solutions for its clients but also embraces a core mission to strengthen the broader community. This commitment is demonstrated through its proactive efforts to demystify the law, sharing knowledge to help cultivate a society that is both well-informed and capable of exercising its rights.
