From a statement issued by the Federation of Chambers and Associations of Exporters of Central America (FECAEXCA):

During the annual meeting of the Federation of Chambers and Associations of Exporters of Central America (FECAEXCA), exporters in the region called on the executive and legislative bodies of their countries to facilitate the Central American Customs Union, by ratifying the Facilitation Agreement Trade and beginning the negotiation of the Free Trade Agreement between Central America and Korea.

During the annual meeting of FECAEXCA, an organization that brings together the Chambers and Associations of Exporters such as AGEXPORT (Guatemala), COEXPORT (El Salvador), CEF (Nicaragua), FPX (Honduras), CADEXCO (Costar Rica), APEX (Panama) and ADOEXPO (Dominican Republic), representatives agreed on the importance of the Customs Union as a tool to increase trade in the region and generate the economies of scale necessary to compete in the global market. Therefore, they urged the Ministers of Economy of Central America to redouble their efforts in order for the processes of the Customs Union to be given priority and the necessary speed and in this way take actions to finalize the actions undertaken between Guatemala and Honduras, and between Panama and Costa Rica creating a single customs territory.

More on this topic

Governments Hinder Intra-Regional Trade

July 2014

Despite the antiquity of the efforts for Central American integration and for the Customs Union the obstacles to trade between the countries on the isthmus presented by customs offices are notorious.

The Federation of Chambers and Associations of Exporters of Central America (Fecaxca) is once again calling for policies and common strategies for standards and customs procedures.

Regional Plan for Use of AA with EU

September 2013

FECAEXCA has submitted a regional strategy for the Association Agreement to be an effective tool of investment, business and employment generation.

From a press release issued by the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (Agexport):

Central American exporters meeting in the Federation of Chambers and Associations of exporters from Central America and the Dominican Republic, FECAEXCA, has delivered to its governmental and private initiative authorities a regional strategy for the Association Agreement to be an effective tool for investment, business and generating employment for regional countries.

Single Declaration Form for Central American Customs

May 2013

Preparations are being made for a single form that will streamline customs trade ahead of the entry into force of the Association Agreement between Central America and the European Union.

According to the president of the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (Cosep), Joseph Adam Aguerri, already working on this issue are the Central American Integration System (SICA), and the Secretariat of Central American Economic Integration (SIEC). They are working "on a unified customs document that aims to concentrate all imports and exports," added Aguerri.

Central American Customs Union is Essential

June 2012

The Central American Customs Union is the most important tool for increasing trade in the region and generating the economies of a scale necessary to compete in the global market.

The Federation of Chambers of Exporters of Central America, Panama and the Caribbean (FECAEXCA) has released a statement in which it urges “the Ministers of Economy of the region to redouble their efforts so that the processes of the Customs Union can acquire the necessary priority and speed and to take actions to complete them”.