Customs Activities Suspended in Puerto Quetzal

A court ruling has overturned the SAT resolutions authorizing Empresa Portuaria Quetzal y Terminal de Contenedores Quetzal to operate as temporary customs warehouses.

Thursday, June 29, 2017

Although the Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT) has announced that it will be appealing the ruling given by the Second Administrative Appeals Chamber, the reality is that since June 28, the activities of the customs warehouses in Empresa Portuaria Quetzal (EPQ) have been suspended as well as those at the Terminal de Contenedores Quetzal (TCQ). "...The resolution orders that the SAT no longer has the customs service under its administration, which contravenes the Central American Customs Code CAUCA, therefore the Superintendency will file an appeal against the decision made by the Court."

Crhoy.com explains that "...The aforementioned court granted a provisional writ of protection promoted by the companies Fénix Cargo, Almacenes y Silos, S.A. (Almacilos) and Aplicaciones Técnicas, S.A. (Aplitec), which operate non-intrusive -x ray- inspection ramps - for containers that are marked red."

"... "The basis for this resolution is that they - the three firms - want to be on an level of equality, with TCQ, when it comes to selective inspections of containers, and that is why they are bringing the case," said the head of the SAT, Francisco Solórzano Foppa.  By canceling the two resolutions of the collecting body, which gives them 'DAT' status, "the operations carried out by the ports - loading and unloading - will be illegal," therefore they will appeal the resolution (today), he added."

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The Fifth Chamber of Administrative Litigation has declared void the 25 year usufruct contract between Empresa Portuaria Quetzal and Terminal de Contenedores Quetzal, property of APM Terminals.

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Quetzal Container Terminal to Start Operations Soon

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