Negotiations between Canada and Costa Rica were launched on June 30, 2000. Seven rounds of negotiations took place. Negotiations were concluded in April 2001 and the agreement was signed on 23 April 2001 in Ottawa, Canada.

In addition to the Free Trade Agreement, on 21 March 2001, Canada and Costa Rica issued a joint statement on global electronic commerce.

On 27 August 2010, after 8 years of the entry into force of the agreement, both countries agreed to work toward modernizing the existing bilateral free trade agreement. The process was scheduled to begin in November 2010. Canada and Costa Rica announced the launch of negotiations to modernize their existing free trade agreement on August 11, 2011.

Documents related to the update of the FTA
11 August 2011	Canada and Costa launch negotiations to modernize their FTA
27 August 2010	Beginning of the exploratory process to modernize the FTA between Canada and Costa Rica
Source: Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

Documents relating to the negotiations
23 April 2001	Ottawa, Canada. Canada and Costa Rica sign free trade agreement
21 March 2001	Canada-Costa Rica Joint Statement on Global Electronic Commerce
19-23 February 2001	San José, Costa Rica.Report of the 6th round of negotiations
15-19 January 2001	Ottawa, Canada. Report of the 5th round of negotiations
20-24 November 2000	San José, Costa Rica. Report of the 4th round of negotiations
16-20 October 2000	Ottawa, Canada. Report of the 3rd round of negotiations
11-14 September 2000	San José, Costa Rica. Report of the 2nd round of negotiations
11-14 July 2000	Ottawa, Canada. Report of the 1st round of negotiations
30 June 2000	Canada-Costa Rica free trade negotiations launched
Source: Ministerio de Comercio Exterior de Costa Rica (COMEX); Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

The Canada-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement came into force on 01 November 2002.

Canada and Costa Rica exchanged instruments of ratification at the occasion of the VII Ministerial Meeting of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) in Quito, Ecuador.

Documents relating to entry into force
01 November 2002	Canada-Costa RIca Free Trade Agreement enters into force
18 December 2001	Canada-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement legislation receives Royal Assent
Source: Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

Article XIII.1 of the Agreement establishes a Free Trade Commission, comprising cabinet-level representatives, to meet yearly with the duty to supervise the implementation of the Agreement. The Commission was charged with the task of establishing a Secretariat, comprising national sections. This was done through the Free Trade Commission decision N° 1 in November 2002. The Commission also agreed to certain modifications to the specific rules of origin set out in Annex IV.1.

Documents relating to the Canada-Costa Rica Free Trade Commission
01 November 2002	Decision N° 1: Establishment of a Secretariat of the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and Costa Rica
01 November 2002	Agreement to modify Annex IV.I (Specific rules of origin) of the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement
Source: Ministerio de Comercio Exterior de Costa Rica (COMEX)

The Canada-Costa Free Trade Agreement includes parallel cooperation agreements on environment and labour. The Agreement on Environmental Cooperation states that Parties shall meet bilennially to review progress on the implementation and further elaboration of the Agreement.

Documents related to Environmental Cooperation
11 June 2004	San José, Costa Rica. First meeting of the Signatory Parties to the Canada-Costa Rica Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (CCRAEC)
Source: Environment Canada

The Agreement on Labor Cooperation sets out a Ministerial Council comprised of Ministers responsible for labour affairs to review the progress of the agreement. The first meeting was held during the 15th American regional meeting of the International Labour Organization.

Documents related to Labour Cooperation
12 December 2002	Lima, Peru. First Ministerial Council meeting
01 November 2002	Canada-Costa Rica Labour Agreement enters into force
06 August 2002	Agreement on Labor Cooperation approved in Costa Rica
Source: Human Resources and Social Development Canada

• Environment Canada
• Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
• Human Resources and Social Development Canada
• Ministerio de Comercio Exterior de Costa Rica (COMEX)