Costa Rica–United Kingdom relations#Economic relations
{{Infobox bilateral relations
| title = Costa Rica–United Kingdom relations
| party1 = Costa Rica
| party2 = United Kingdom
| map = Costa Rica United Kingdom Locator.png
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| mission1 = Embassy of Costa Rica, London
| mission2 = Embassy of the United Kingdom, San José
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Costa Rica and the United Kingdom have established diplomatic and trade relationships.
The two countries officially established diplomatic ties in 1848.{{Cite web|url=https://artcollection.dcms.gov.uk/stories/a-life-livelier-british-art-and-diplomacy-in-costa-rica/|title=A Life Livelier: British art and diplomacy in Costa Rica|website=Government Art Collection}}https://www.rree.go.cr/?sec=exterior&cat=politica&cont=522&pais=GB Frederick Chatfield was the British consul in Central America at the time.
Costa Rica and the United Kingdom are both parties to the UK-Central America Agreement, a treaty and trade agreement.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-central-america-association-agreement|title=UK-Central America association agreement|date=January 1, 2022|website=GOV.UK}}
History
On November 27, 1849, the two countries signed the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation between Great Britain and Costa Rica.{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/uk-treaties/treaties/6169|title=FCDO Treaties - Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation between Great Britain and Costa Rica}} The treaty went into effect on February 20, 1850.
Agreements
In 1887, the two countries signed the Convention with the Postal Administration of the Republic of Costa Rica for the exchange of postal parcels, with Detailed Regulations.{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/uk-treaties/treaties/10114|title=FCDO Treaties - Convention with the Postal Administration of the Republic of Costa Rica for the exchange of postal parcels, with Detailed Regulations}}
In 1907, the two countries signed the Agreement between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Costa Rica for the Exchange of Postal Money Orders.{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/uk-treaties/treaties/8218|title=FCDO Treaties - Agreement between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Costa Rica for the Exchange of Postal Money Orders}}
In 1921, the two countries signed the Exchange of Notes between Great Britain and Costa Rica relative to the Importation from Great Britain into Costa Rica of Opium and similar Drugs.{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/uk-treaties/treaties/6862|title=FCDO Treaties - Exchange of Notes between Great Britain and Costa Rica relative to the Importation from Great Britain into Costa Rica of Opium and similar Drugs}}
In 1922, the two countries signed the Convention between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Costa Rica for the Submission to Arbitration of Certain Claims against the Government of Costa Rica.{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/uk-treaties/treaties/7917|title=FCDO Treaties - Convention between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Costa Rica for the Submission to Arbitration of Certain Claims against the Government of Costa Rica}}
In 1928, the two countries signed the Convention between His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the Government of Costa Rica respecting Commercial Travellers.{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/uk-treaties/treaties/742|title=FCDO Treaties - Convention between His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the Government of Costa Rica respecting Commercial Travellers}}
In 1933, the two countries signed the Exchange of Notes between the Government of the Irish Free State and the Costa Rican Government in regard to Commercial Relations.{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/uk-treaties/treaties/5628|title=FCDO Treaties - Exchange of Notes between the Government of the Irish Free State and the Costa Rican Government in regard to Commercial Relations}}
In 1950, the two countries signed the Agreement between Canada and Costa Rica.{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/uk-treaties/treaties/8085|title=FCDO Treaties - Agreement between Canada and Costa Rica}}
In 1968, the two countries signed the Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Costa Rica concerning the Abolition of Visas.{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/uk-treaties/treaties/7418|title=FCDO Treaties - Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Costa Rica concerning the Abolition of Visas}}
In 1975, the two countries signed the Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Costa Rica further amending the United Kingdom / Costa Rica Loan 1973.{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/uk-treaties/treaties/238|title=FCDO Treaties - Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Costa Rica further amending the United Kingdom / Costa Rica Loan 1973}}
Economic relations
From 1 August 2013 until 30 December 2020, trade between Costa Rica and the UK was governed by the Central America–European Union Association Agreement, while the United Kingdom was a member of the European Union.{{cite web|title=EU - Central America|website=World Trade Organization|url=https://rtais.wto.org/UI/PublicShowMemberRTAIDCard.aspx?rtaid=676|access-date=13 December 2024}} Following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, the UK and Costa Rica signed a continuity trade agreement on 18 July 2019, based on the EU free trade agreement; the agreement entered into force on 1 January 2021.{{cite web|title=UK and Central America sign continuity agreement|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-and-central-america-sign-continuity-agreement|date=18 July 2019|website=GOV.UK|access-date=24 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718222318/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-and-central-america-sign-continuity-agreement|archive-date=18 July 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Cotton|first=Barney|date=19 July 2019|work=Business Leader|title=UK and Central America sign continuity agreement|url=https://www.businessleader.co.uk/uk-and-central-america-sign-continuity-agreement/|access-date=24 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809204958/https://www.businessleader.co.uk/uk-and-central-america-sign-continuity-agreement/|archive-date=9 August 2022|url-status=dead}} Trade value between Central America and the United Kingdom was worth £2,624 million in 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-trade-agreements-in-effect|title=UK trade agreements in effect|access-date=9 February 2024|date=3 November 2022|website=GOV.UK|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117122720/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-trade-agreements-in-effect|archive-date=17 January 2024}}
On 29 November 2024, Costa Rica was invited to open negotiations to join Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade bloc of which the United Kingdom is a member.{{cite web|last=Murillo|first=Alavaro|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/costa-rica-seeks-entry-trans-pacific-trade-bloc-2022-08-11/ |title=Costa Rica seeks entry to trans-Pacific trade bloc|date=11 August 2022|location=San Jose|website=Reuters|access-date=17 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811213851/https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/costa-rica-seeks-entry-trans-pacific-trade-bloc-2022-08-11/|archive-date=11 August 2022|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Martinez|first=Juan|url=https://www.riotimesonline.com/costa-rica-invited-to-join-pacific-trade-powerhouse-cptpp/|title=Costa Rica Invited to Join Pacific Trade Powerhouse CPTPP|date=29 November 2024|website=The Rio Times|access-date=29 November 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241129151254/https://www.riotimesonline.com/costa-rica-invited-to-join-pacific-trade-powerhouse-cptpp/|archive-date=29 November 2024|url-status=live}}
Diplomatic missions
File:Embassy_of_Costa_Rica_in_London.jpg
Costa Rica has an embassy in London.{{cite news|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/263519/LDL_December_2013.pdf |title=The London Diplomatic List |date=8 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211155353/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/263519/LDL_December_2013.pdf |archive-date=2013-12-11 }} The mission was raised to the status of embassy in 1956, having previously been a legation.{{Cite news|title=Missions Raised To Embassy Status|date=12 December 1956|work=The Times}}
María del Carmen Gutiérrez Chamberlain de Chittenden, ambassador from 1962, was the first woman ambassador accredited to the Court of St James's.{{cn|date=December 2024}}
{{See also|List of ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Costa Rica}}
The United Kingdom has an embassy in San José.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-in-costa-rica|title=British Embassy San Jose - GOV.UK|website=www.gov.uk}}
List of ambassadors
= Ministers =
- 1876?: Francisco María Iglesias Llorente
- 1882 to 1887: León Fernández Bonilla (non-resident)
- 1887 to 1898: Manuel María de Peralta y Alfaro (resident in Paris)
- 1913 to 1919: Wenceslao de la Guardia y Fábrega
- 1950?: Luis Dobles Segreda (resident in?)
- 1954 to 1956: Virginia Prestinary de Gallegos
See also
{{Foreign relations of Costa Rica}}
{{Foreign relations of the United Kingdom}}