Costa Rica Gains Relief as U.S. Court Invalidates Trump’s Tariffs

The U.S. Supreme Court delivered a significant setback to President Donald Trump by ruling his use of an emergency law to impose broad tariffs illegal, a decision that ripples through global trade and offers relief to Costa Rica’s exporters. The court, with its conservative majority, voted 6-3 on Friday to strike down the tariffs Trump …

Costa Rica’s President-Elect Pushes for Key Legislation Before Power Shift

Laura Fernández, Costa Rica’s president-elect and current Minister of the Presidency, met with congressional party leaders today to request their support in advancing seven priority bills. These measures, seen as essential by the outgoing administration of President Rodrigo Chaves, aim to address infrastructure, security, and economic challenges before the legislative session ends in April. Fernández …

Volaris Pulls Plug on Four Costa Rica Flights Amid Tax Hike Pressures

Volaris announced the indefinite suspension of four flight routes to and from Costa Rica, citing high ticket taxes as the primary reason. The decision takes effect on April 12, 2026, after the airline stopped selling tickets for these routes on January 21. Ronny Rodríguez, Volaris’ Director of Sustainability and Corporate Development, confirmed the move. He …

Costa Rica’s Dollar Exchange Rate Hits 17-Year Low

The dollar’s exchange rate against the colon dropped further today in Costa Rica’s foreign currency market, known as Monex. Data from the Central Bank of Costa Rica shows the weighted average price of the dollar settled at ₡474.95. This marks the lowest point since December 6, 2007, when the bank started tracking rates under the …

Costa Rica Sees 11-Fold Jump in Forest Fires as Dry Winds Fuel Crisis

Firefighters in Costa Rica report a stark increase in forest fires this year, with 33 incidents recorded. This number marks an elevenfold jump from the three fires noted on the same date in 2025, signaling a troubling acceleration as the dry season takes hold. Gabriel Barrantes, from the Fire Department’s Forest Operations Unit, points to …

Costa Rica Cracks Down on Alleged Violations in Coris Wetlands

Authorities in Cartago carried out raids on Tuesday in an ongoing probe into suspected harm to the Coris wetland. The Deputy Environmental Prosecutor’s Office led the operation, targeting an agricultural firm, a home, and related land parcels. Officials seized a cellphone, computers, and key documents during the searches, which continued into the late morning. The …

CK Hutchison Requests Negotiations with Panama over Canal Ports

Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings on February 19, 2026, called on the Panamanian government to open talks aimed at allowing its subsidiary to keep running two key ports at the ends of the Panama Canal. The request came from Alejandro Kouruklis, spokesperson for Panama Ports Company, the Hutchison unit that has operated the Balboa …

Costa Rica Leaders Head to Trump Summit for Security Boost

President Rodrigo Chaves and President-elect Laura Fernández plan to attend a high-level summit in Florida next month, hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump. The gathering, set for March 7, focuses on regional security threats like drug trafficking and organized crime. Chaves shared details during his weekly press conference on Wednesday. He described the event as …

UK police arrest ex-prince Andrew in historic blow to royal family

Britain’s former prince Andrew was arrested Thursday on suspicion of misconduct during his time as a trade envoy, as UK police investigations into allegations emerging from the Jeffrey Epstein files gathered pace. The arrest of a royal family member is unprecedented in Britain’s modern era, and within hours King Charles III issued a rare personally …

High Dollarization Poses Risk to Costa Rica’s Loan Portfolio

Moody’s Local warned that the high dollarization of credit in Costa Rica could put pressure on portfolio quality due to the large proportion of loans granted to borrowers with foreign exchange exposure. This was highlighted by the group of local rating agencies, present in the main financial markets of Latin America, in a recent study. The …