Authorities from both countries met to review pending procedures related to the export and import of products such as tomatoes, beef, chicken, fish and sausages.
The bilateral agenda also addressed the issues of international cargo transport, smuggling at border crossings, streamlining procedures and efficiency in processes, as well as the provision of facilities and measures restricting the international transport of land cargo, reported the government of Panama.
Five Guatemalan companies exporting fruit juices have asked the government for support to demand that Panama lift the suspension on imports of their products.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance in Guatemala:
Five Guatemalan companies exporting fruit nectars, asked the Ministry of Economy to support the lifting of the suspension on imports of their products in Panama.
The entry of 40,000 pounds of Nicaraguan meat has been prevented for alleged phytosanitary reasons, an argument which has been rejected by exporters.
Executives from Nicaraguan slaughterhouses have complained that Guatemala has had phytosanitary restrictions in place for two years on beef imports, arguing that this has caused huge losses, both in terms of money and business connections.
Restrictions by Honduras, Guatemala and Panama on Nicaraguan beef exports have caused a reduction in revenues of about $60 million for exporters, who are demanding reciprocal measures to those countries.
Since 2010, Nicaraguan farmers have failed to collect about $60 million in profit due to the restrictions imposed by the authorities of Honduras, Panama and Guatemala on importing meat from Nicaragua, said industry leaders in the El Nuevo Diario.
Nicaragua has lifted the measures that kept its border closed to the Honduran citrus fruit since early September.
Leopoldo Duran, president of the National Federation of Farmers and Ranchers of Honduras, reported the resolution, adding that fortunately there were no large losses by producers during the border’s closure.
"Duran said that monthly exports of the fruit to Nicaragua amount to five million lempiras ($ 270 thousand), especially from the Sonaguera sector, Colon, where the biggest processing plant in the country is located.
Failure to do so will result in a lawsuit being filed against the Nicaraguan government for creating trade barriers.
The Honduran government on Monday has given a deadline of September 19 for the situation to be reversed otherwise they will proceed with a Chancery suit or through the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, said the director of the National Service of Agricultural Health (SENASA ), Heriberto Amador.
With Nicaragua’s application of non-tariff barriers on citrus fruit from Honduras, producers are requesting government intervention.
The growers asked the National Service of Agricultural Health (SENASA) to intervene in order to resolve the conflict that is occuring mainly over oranges
The head of SENASA, Heriberto Amador, confirmed the existence of the problem.
Tariff barriers imposed by Honduras and Guatemala on meat from Nicaragua are being discussed at ministerial level in countries of the region.
Aguerri Adam Joseph, president of the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP) reported that at the last meeting of the Consultative Committee for Economic Integration the issue was discussed and agreement was settlement on at ministerial level.
Despite an agreement reached between the two countries, El Salvador´s poultry industry has not yet been able to resume exports of eggs to Honduras.
According to provisions agreed to last year, the National Agricultural Health of Honduras (SENASA) should inspect poultry farms in El Salvador prior to approval of exports. This in order to make sure the eggs do not come from birds vaccinated against the flu.
As consequence of El Salvador eliminating export incentives, the Dominican Republic will not impose further restrictions.
Dominican Vice Minister of Commerce, Mario Roger Hernandez, said the move responds to the approval of El Salvador's decree eliminating staring February 1st, the export incentive known as 'drawback'.
"Trade authorities of the island, which since 2009 began to impose trade barriers to El Salvador, acknowledged the effort to resolve the situation in the country, said René Salazar, head of the Department of Treaty Trade Administration (DATCO)", reported Laprensagrafica.com.
For the last month Nicaragua has prevented pepper and tomatoes imports from Honduras.
Edgar Santamaría, National Service of Agricultural Health (SENASA) reported that the government of Nicaragua is denying import permits for tomatoes and peppers due to the presence of a plague called paratriosa.
"The Honduran government, through SENASA authorities, has made a formal complaint to Nicaragua due to the current situation," reports Elheraldo.hn.
Dominican Republic provisionally lifted, until December 31, restrictions for Salvadoran products.
The Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Dominican Republic, Jose Ramon Fadul, announced on Thursday consensus by the Dominican Government to accept provisional certifications issued by the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador, so imports from that country benefit from preferential trade.
The Dominican government said they are willing to negotiate with Central America the imposition of tariffs on 26 products from the Isthmus.
The Dominican Republic's Trade Minister, Ramón Fadul said in a statement that tariffs on Central American goods do not violate free trade agreements, but are part of safeguard mechanisms established in the treaties themselves.
The case before the World Trade Organization (WTO) is due to high tariffs imposed on products from the region.
Representatives from El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Costa Rica, decided to file a lawsuit due to the "negative effects" for the region as a consequence of the measure taken by Dominican Republic.
"'There was an agreement between the four countries to operate under the WTO and to examine whether these measures are based on safeguarding or is an arbitrary arrangement," said Guatemalan Vice Minister of Economy, Raul Trejo, to ACAN-EFE.
Ten Salvadoran companies exporting to the Dominican Republic have agreed to forego the 6% subsidy in order to solve the trade issue between the countries.
Dominican Republic trade authorities had indicated that they would retain duties on various Salvadoran products as a response to the protectionist policies El Salvador provides its exporters.
"Most companies that export to the Dominican Republic gave up the 6% subsidy several days ago in order to avoid this problem and try to solve this conflict," confirmed Héctor Dada, Salvadoran Economy Minister, to Laprensagrafica.com.