Extension to be Requested from European Union

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

Friday, June 7, 2013

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. "We are going to launch a supporting diplomatic offensive against the European Union, so that they can give the country a chance to enter belatedly," he added.

Guatemala's interest is in having a margin by which it can enter, in a delayed fashion, into the agreement on 1 January 2014, because even if lawmakers pass the law before July 15, the country can not make it effective until after August 1.

"We respect the sovereign processes of each country and there are no political implications, but the negative effects will show up in the economic sector when other countries have the AA in place and will have an advantage," said Christian Leffler, Americas director at the EU .

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