In El Salvador, private laboratories certified by the National Quality System will be able to analyze samples of food and beverages in order to opt for a sanitary registration during vacation periods.
The amendments, which were confirmed by the Ministry of Health and Social Assistance (Minsal) and the Ministry of Economy (Minec), respond to the requests made by businessmen at the first meeting of the Trade Facilitation Committee (Cifacil).
The Ministry of Economy found that Costa Rican Dos Pinos had dumped, but ruled out sanctions, arguing that no damage was caused to sales or local production.
The investigation process was carried out by the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador, derived from the complaint filed in 2017 by the Salvadoran Cooperativa Ganadera de Sonsonate, de RL de CV against the Costa Rican Cooperativa de Productores de Leche Dos Pinos and the local distributor Comersal.
In El Salvador, the Ministry of Economy announced the implementation of a digital platform providing exporting companies with statistical information to explore potential markets.
Salvadoran authorities reported that the "Trade Intelligence System" provides up-to-date statistical information on global foreign trade, as well as the country's exchange with each of the world's nations.
In El Salvador, the Ministry of Economy drafted a bill to regulate the commercialization and importation of devices not compatible with digital television, but the Superintendence of Competition failed to endorse it.
At the end of 2018, the country began its transition to digital television, since the state-owned TV channel Canal 10 began broadcasting the open digital signal, and it was reported that in the next three years it will have to be implemented by private TV stations.
During 2018, the Salvadoran market demanded 574.3 million gallons of fuels, 3.4% more than the consumption reported in 2017.
Data from the Directorate of Hydrocarbons and Mines, detail that between 2017 and 2018 fuel consumption increased by 19 million gallons, going from 555 million to 574 million gallons.
As of March 15, the FTA between Taiwan and El Salvador will be null and void, a situation that will prevent the Central American country from selling 80,000 tons of sugar at favorable prices.
The Salvadoran government concluded the trade agreement with the Asian country in December last year, a decision that was not consulted with the country's productive sector and will affect sugar exports, as it will no longer have preferential treatment.
It is announced that technical groups from the governments of El Salvador and Guatemala began negotiations in London to conclude a new trade agreement.
Now, there is a possibility that the agreement the region seeks to sign with the European country will not be consolidated, since it is not yet clear how the process of Britain's exit from the European Union will be carried out, an issue that is generating great tension between the British Parliament and Prime Minister, Theresa May, at this very moment.
Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras have yet to finalize their Customs Union, since this week a new round of negotiations began in which they will follow up on the project to implement the advance declaration.
Although in December 2018 it was reported that the El Poy integrated border post in Chalatenango, the first to have the necessary infrastructure to operate within the framework of the customs integration of the Northern Triangle, began operating in El Salvador, the unification process is currently under negotiation among the countries.
After several rounds of negotiations, El Salvador formally joined the Customs Union process with Guatemala and Honduras, so it will have to adjust its systems to the community information platform.
Authorities from the countries of the Northern Triangle reported that since November 20th, El Salvador has been fully incorporated legally and administratively into the process of Deep Integration of the Customs Union between Guatemala and Honduras.
Informality in the labor sector, low levels of taxation and little investment in innovation and development are some of the obstacles the country is facing in terms of competitiveness.
The Ministry of Economy presented the "First National Competitiveness Report", which analyzes more than 200 indicators obtained from indices prepared by international organizations such as Doing Business, Competitiveness Index, Trade Facilitation, Global Innovation, Connectivity and Index of Performance of Energetic Structure.
It has been estimated that since the crisis began in Nicaragua, losses in trade between Nicaraguan and Salvadoran companies amount to $12 million.
The cheese and milk trade is the area that has been most affected by the socio-political crisis occurring in Nicaragua.According to representatives from the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador, losses in bilateral trade not only of cheese and milk, but also of other goods, amount to $12 million.
In order to guarantee the supply of basic grains in the country, the Salvadoran government has signed an agreement to import 35,000 tons of white corn.
Due to the lack of rain that has affected crops in areas of the east of the country, the government signed an executive agreement between the ministries of Agriculture, Economy and Finance, to import basic grain.
In El Salvador, the Ministry of Economy has started an investigation into alleged dumping practices, after Cooperativa Ganadera de Sonsonate filed a complaint against the Costa Rican company Dos Pinos.
The Ministry of Economy ordered an investigation into alleged anti-competitive practices in the dairy products market, specifically related to sales of fluid milk, in the period between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017.
Six months after the vice president of El Salvador himself welcomed the company into the country, the transport authorities now say the service is illegal and intend to suspend it.
The Deputy Minister of Transportation, Nelson García, warned that they will start to fine and confiscate vehicles that are providing private transport services via the application, because it is considered illegal in the country.
Negotiations have started to incorporate El Salvador into the Customs Union that is already functioning, albeit partially and with some setbacks, between Guatemala and Honduras.
Internal taxes, customs procedures, migration, tariffs and sanitary and phytosanitary permits are some of the issues to be addressed in the first round of negotiations between the Salvadoran government and its Guatemalan and Honduran counterparts.