The Cortizo administration is preparing a bill to create the Integrated Control System at the border with Costa Rica, with the aim of simplifying the transit of people, vehicles and goods between the two countries.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama reported that Alejandro Ferrer, head of the institution, with the support of the Director of the Customs Authority of Panama, Tayra Barsallo, presented to the Cabinet Council, the draft law approving the framework agreement to implement integrated binational control systems at the border crossings between Panama and Costa Rica (Paso Canoa, Rio Sereno and Sixaola).
The signed association agreement "guarantees Central American countries that with the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union, there will be no legal vacuum and trade relations with that country will be interrupted and tariff preferences will be maintained, with all legal guarantees for Central American exporters to the United Kingdom."
The government of Guatemala informed that Julio Dougherty, Vice-Minister of Integration and Foreign Trade, together with the Ministers of Economy and Foreign Trade of Central America and the United Kingdom Ambassador in Costa Rica, Ross Denny, signed in Managua the document that establishes the Association Agreement that constitutes the mechanism to attend the preferential commercial relations regulated with the United Kingdom through the Association Agreement between Central America (CA) and the European Union (AACUE), on the occasion of BREXIT.
As the region gets ready to start complying with the US law FATCA, OECD countries are already working on a Single Global Standard for automatic exchange of information.
FATCA could now be joined by the European OECD countries Single Global Standard for Automatic Clearing of CRS Information (Gatca), "... allowing tax information on their residents to be shared between them."
The South Korean government has proposed to Central American countries that they resume negotiations to sign a free trade agreement.
During a meeting between officials of the Ministry of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica and the deputy minister, Moon Jaedo, of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy (Motie) of South Korea, it was requested "... that the Central American countries evaluate opening up a process of negotiation for a free trade agreement. "
Central American countries need to implement a series of improvements in customs procedures in order to meet the requirements of the agreement for the facilitation of international trade.
Within two years, as part of the commitments made in the 2001 Doha Round of the Bali Agreement, signed in 2013 by 160 nations belonging to the World Trade Organization (WTO), including Central America, governments will have to harmonize their customs systems ensuring trade facilitation. However, to date institutional progress on issues established by the Agreement such as simplification, harmonization and automation of procedures for international trade have not happened, particularly in relation to the requirements and formalities for import, export and transit of border freight.
Cargill and Copersucar are to create a new company to jointly market sugar globally.
From a press release issued by Cargill:
"Copersucar and Cargill announced an agreement to combine their global sugar trading activities into a new company which will have as its goal the generation, marketing and operation of crude and white sugar. The joint venture, in which both Cargill and Copersucar possess a 50% stake each, will have global presence. "
The Pacific Alliance has become the largest market in Latin America and an attractive investment for companies in third party countries who want to use it.
"In 2012, the Gross Domestic Product of the Pacific Partnership (AP by its initials in Spanish) grew by 5%, two points higher than that recorded by the global economy. FDI remained at an acceptable rhythm, with $71.045 billion, of which over $30 billion was destined for Chile.
The group of countries that Costa Rica, Panama and others in the region want to join, will next week sign in the immediate elimination of tariffs on 92% of trade goods.
The protocol on tax relief for 92% of goods traded between the countries of the Pacific Alliance will be signed next week at a summit to be held at Cartagena de Indias, confirmed the Colombian president, Juan Manuel Santos.
The inclination of Latin American governments when deciding which commercial block to join, is clearly marked by their ideological distinctions.
Editorial
While describing the launch of the Pacific Alliance as a "successful exercise in media diplomacy" in an analysis of the issue in his article in Lanacion.com.ar, Alejandro Rebossio highlights the features of this block and those of Mercosur, noting that in just one year of existence, the Pacific countries have achieved more in institutional and commercial integration, than the Atlantic block.
The entry of Venezuela to the South American block has consolidated its character as being driven more by domestic political considerations that modern commercial criteria.
"We need to get rid of this straight jacket, since we will not conclude any agreement while having Argentina and Venezuela as partners," said Roberto Giannetti, director of the Department of International Relations and Foreign Trade of the Federation of Industries of the State of Sao Paulo (Fiesp).
Those countries who have not ratified the Association Agreement with the European Union are at risk of losing markets compared to other Central American nations.
In an interview in Siglo21.com.gt by Celso Solano, with the ambassador to the European Union in Guatemala, Stella Zervoudaki, the official explained that there will not be any sanctions if Guatemala fails to ratify the agreement on or before May 15, but the country faces other threats.
Europe wants a more ambitious agreement with Latin America to ensure the protection of investments in the region.
"The European Union would like to have "more ambitious" protection of foreign investment in Latin America as expressed in the last summit meeting with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), said the EU representative in Uruguay, the Spaniard Juan Fernández Trigo ", noted an article in Economía.elpaís.com.
The Inter-American Development Bank has launched a new version of the Intrade website with information on tariffs and trade agreements for companies and countries seeking new markets for their exports.
A statement from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) reads:
IDB launches new version of Intrade, the most complete business information system in the region.
“Agreement Aimed to Generate New Business through both Ports”
Tianjin, China – The Port of Corpus Christi and the Tianjin Port (Group) Co., Ltd signed a memorandum of understanding today. The Tianjin Port Authority hosted a delegation of the Port of Corpus Christi, led by City of Corpus Christi Mayor Joe Adame, for the official signing of the MOU.
The company will have to pay a total of $12.2 million for having fixed prices with the banana producer Chiquita.
Between June 2004 and April 2005 two of the most important importers and marketers of bananas in the world negotiated in order to agree on sales prices, thus distorting competition in the market.
These price agreements had negative effects on countries in southern Europe, mainly Italy, Greece and Portugal.
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