Starting to sell beef on the Guatemalan market and evaluating the possibility of signing a trade agreement between the two economies are part of the initiatives proposed by the South American country.
During his visit to Guatemala, Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo stated that another of the South American country's interests is to participate in the organic coffee business.
After meeting all the requirements demanded by the Asian country's authorities, the first shipment of 24,000 kilos of frozen pork cuts was sent on February 14.
The company that made the first shipment is Carnes Zamora, which in the first shipment included chops, ribs, shoulders, fat, skin, legs, horns and ears.
After the sanitary protocol to sell meat to China came into effect and the industrial plants in Costa Rica were certified, the Central American country's sales to the Asian giant doubled between 2018 and 2019.
Figures from the Foreign Trade Promotion Agency (Procomer) show that in 2018 beef sales to China reached $22 million, while in 2019 they doubled to $57 million.
Arguing that quality and health standards are not being met, Salvadoran farmers are asking for greater controls on milk products entering from Nicaragua and Honduras.
CentralAmericaData reports that from January to September 2019 El Salvador was the main buyer of milk and dairy products from the other Central American countries, importing $106 million, of which $78 million was bought from Nicaragua, $14 million from Costa Rica and another $13 million from Honduras.
From January to September 2019, trade in milk and dairy products among the countries of the region reached $245 million, 2% more than in the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]
Authorities from both countries defined the actions they must execute in terms of sanitary requirements, so that Panama can start exporting products such as pineapple, beef, coffee and cocoa, among others, to Israel.
The entry of these Panamanian products to the Israeli market is within the framework of the Free Trade Agreement between the two economies, which was signed in May 2018 and ratified by the National Assembly of Panama in October 2019.
Arguing that imports may be close to reaching the level of automatic activation of the special safeguard mechanism, the Panamanian government ordered an investigation into pork purchases made from companies in the United States.
The General Directorate of Trade Defence has analyzed the information available through periodic reports requested from the National Customs Authority on imports of the goods described above and has submitted a report warning that such imports may be close to reaching the level of automatic activation of the special agricultural safeguard mechanism, explains the resolution of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MICI).
As part of the FTA signed between the two countries, since January 1, 2020 beef and pork from the U.S. do not pay tariffs or taxes on entry into Costa Rica.
According to the Free Trade Agreement signed, the relief of beef and pork will be valid for 15 years, while the so-called black parts of the chicken, such as thighs and others, will be released until January 1, 2022, in this case for the term of 17 years.
As in the case of Panama, Chinese authorities gave their endorsement for the processing plants Porcina Americana and Carnes Zamora to start selling pork products to the Asian giant from January 2020.
Following the authorization granted by the Asian country, pig farmers predict a strong impact on employment generation in rural sectors where most pig farms are located, reported the National Animal Health Service of Costa Rica (Senasa).
With the approval of a decree declaring beef and all its edible offal as sensitive products, importers in the country will not be able to opt for tariff exemptions.
The Cabinet Council approved Cabinet Decree No. 29 dated December 10, 2019, which declares as sensitive products for the national economy all beef, whether fresh, chilled, frozen, salted, smoked, or processed, as well as all edible bovine offal, whether fresh, chilled or frozen, reported the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA).
Through the signing of two protocols, the Central American country is authorized to export to the Asian country pork meat and sausages, as well as fish and shrimp.
Health protocols were signed on December 10 and according to the authorities of the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA), it is expected that the first shipments to China will be made as soon as possible.
Guatemalan producers say the Honduran authorities refuse to inspect their plants, preventing them from exporting milk to that market, so they ask the Guatemalan Ministry of Economy to apply reciprocal measures.
According to the directors of the Dairy Development Association (Asodel) and the Chamber of Dairy Producers of Guatemala, with the aim of authorizing sanitary permits, a year ago they waited for the National Agrifood Health and Safety Service (Senasa) of Honduras to visit the production plants, but the Honduran authorities refused to do so.
In Panama, the authorities ordered a temporary special agricultural safeguard measure to be applied to imports of beef other than prime and choice beef originating in the United States.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI) indicated that this special safeguard, which will be in effect until December 2019, is because imports of this product reached last October, the activation level of the measure agreed in the SPC between Panama and the United States.
The protocol allowing Guatemalan companies to sell live cattle in the neighboring country will come into effect on December 15, 2019.
After the negotiation process between Mexican and Guatemalan authorities has concluded and the sanitary regulations for the entry of animals have been approved, the Central American country has the green light to start selling live cattle.
From January to March 2019, the countries of the region reported $154 million in sales of beef abroad, and exports to Puerto Rico grew 12% over the same period in 2017.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAPHIC caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
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