An analysis of this issue by Reny Mariane Bake in Prensalibre.com, reviews the current status of Foreign Affairs in Guatemala, but this analysis also applies to other, but not all, countries in the region.

Although influenced by the violence in the eighties, the Central American countries, especially those in the north, have maintained diplomatic criteria that is obsolete, especially in trade, and have not adapted to the changes that BRICs point to as permanent.

"... The mere fact that emerging countries dare to suggest they are competition with the World Bank, which has been a monopoly for seven decades, is a clear statement that global economic power is shifting."

"... While all this is happening in the world, in Guatemala we are still tied to designs in our foreign relations made before the fall of the Berlin Wall (1989), and outdated ideologies driving nor are politicians even aware of global economic changes. "

Source: prensalibre.com

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Central America and the Redesign of World Trade

June 2014

The strong dynamic of the global trade agenda forces Central America to consolidate its integration in order to participate in the changes that are shaping the global commercial order.

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The relaunching of the global trade agenda that the President of the United States is promoting in his second term, should be a warning for Central American countries, which despite reaching trade agreements with both the U.S. with the European Union, have sat on their laurels and have failed to complete the tasks needed to make the best use of these agreements, especially with regard to common customs and tariff policies.

Opportunities and Challenges for El Salvador in Europe

July 2013

With the entry into force of the AA in August, 90% of Salvadoran products will be able to be sent to European Union countries duty free.

"What will happen is that Central America, instead of exporting to the international market, will export to Europe. It will change the export destination," said Julio Arroyo, CEO of the Asociación Azucarera.

Extension to be Requested from European Union

June 2013

Guatemala is to ask the European Union for a postponement of the entry into force of the Association Agreement with the block.

According to Maria Luisa Flores, Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade, the Guatemalan Congress has not yet approved the industrial property law which certifies the 114 geographical indications required for the AA.

Export Quotas in the European Agreement

August 2012

A computerized system is being prepared in order to control the volume of exports to Europe by each Central American country, within the provisions of the Partnership Agreement.

An article in Laprensagráfica.com reports that "Central America is working on the adoption of a computerized system which will keep track of the volumes of cargo that each country in the region exports to Europe under the quotas that were agreed in the Agreement Association (AA). "