Cargo Transport: Agreement between Panama and Costa Rica
The Panamanian government announced that it had reached an agreement with the Costa Rican authorities that Panamanian heavy transport units would be given a 72-hour period to load and unload goods in tax offices.
In this context, Panamanian and Costa Rican authorities decided to address the issue and reached agreements to continue trade by land, reported the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Panama (Mici).
May 20th, 2020. Panamanian transporters will be able to load and unload merchandise in Costa Rican fiscal precincts that are previously designated and will have a total of 72 hours to do this operation, after the National Government and Costa Rican authorities negotiated the implementation of a pilot plan to facilitate bilateral trade while the COVID-19 pandemic lasts, informed today the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Ramón Martinez de la Guardia.
Amidst diplomatic efforts and negotiations, where also participated the Foreign Minister Alejandro Ferrer and the General Director of the National Customs Authority, Tayra Barsallo; an agreement was established that contemplates better health and safety conditions for Panamanian cargo transporters, and to guarantee the supply of food and medicines.
"The National Government is optimistic about the agreement, since it will facilitate the flow of goods and regional trade in such a sensitive period in terms of health. In fact, this agreement includes the establishment of controlled routes, traceability and the use of authorized stops, as well as strict monitoring of health guidelines by the authorities of the sister country of Costa Rica," he said.
Minister Martinez reiterated that "our countries see it as imperative to seek temporary solutions that can be adapted to health and trade circumstances, but implemented quickly to make the border congestion will be reduced."
Last Monday, Panamanian and Central American authorities participated in a Special Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Economic Integration of Central America, where the formation of inter-institutional commissions per country was determined to present proposals that would help counteract the effect of the pandemic on regional trade development.
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From three to five days, the time that Costa Rican carriers have available to stay in Nicaraguan territory, to unload goods or for regional transit, was increased.
After several days of tension generated by the restrictions imposed by Costa Rica on the transport of cargo from neighboring countries, Central American authorities reached an agreement and opened the way at the border of Penas Blancas.
In recent weeks the free transit of goods in Central America had been interrupted.
After Costa Rica imposed several restrictions on the movement of cargo entering its territory, the Panamanian government limited the permit for Costa Rican carriers to remain in the country to 72 hours.
The transit of goods in the region is becoming more complicated every day, since it is argued that the propagation of the covid-19 is being mitigated.
In order to mitigate the spread of the covid-19, the government decided that as of May 18, only transporters that make direct transit from border to border will enter Costa Rican territory, whose units must be subject to police surveillance.
On 15 May, President Carlos Alvarado issued two decrees aimed at keeping the number of foreign transporters in the country as low as possible, reported the Costa Rican presidency.
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