Arbitrators working under the framework of DR-CAFTA have ruled that Costa Rican exports within this trade agreement in El Salvador should receive the tariff preferences provided for in the text.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica (COMEX):
Defending the interests of the country as part of the effective administration of the treaty
Since the entry into force in 2006 of the DR-CAFTA, the tip in favor of the U.S. in the trade balance has multiplied by 5.
"The Central America to which President Barack Obama is coming to visit on on Friday is a region that maintains multiple communication vessels with the United States, including a growing trade relationship which in 2012 amounted to $40 billion, although very much in favor of the American power," reported Prensa.com.
U.S. health authorities have granted sanitary approval for ready to eat products containing beef.
A press release from the Ministry of Foreign Trade reads:
In order to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the North American Free Trade Agreement between Central America and the Dominican Republic (CAFTA-DR), Costa Rica has carried out various tasks in order to be able to export traditional products with higher added value.
Costa Rica’s Minister for Foreign Trade met with her Dominican counterpart to explore solutions to the export tariff problems.
Since last year, Costa Rican electrical conductor exporters have been subject to import restrictions and denied preferential customs tariffs.
“The Costa Rican Ministry of Commerce (Comex) claims that this contravenes the free trade agreement signed between Costa Rica, the USA and the Dominican Republic,” writes Nacion.com.
Dominican Republic agreed to enter an arbitration process with Costa Rica over a tariff conflict.
The Industry and Commerce Ministry of Dominican Republic issued a press release in which it agrees to the process, to “solve a conflict created by tariffs charged on Costa Rican electric conductors”.
They added that the country wants to “reach an understanding with Costa Rica to contribute to an adequate and effective management” of CAFTA-RD, the free trade agreement signed between the Central American nations, the U.S. and Dominican Republic, “by respecting and complying with all commitments established in it”.
The country argues that Dominican Republic introduced measures which affected the exports of electrical conductors and polypropylene sacks.
Back in November 27, Costa Rica had activated DR-CAFTA’s dispute resolution mechanism, arguing that Dominican Republic did not apply the rules of the treaty to these products.
The Dominican Customs Director had issued instructions to charge the full tariff to all products manufactured by Costa Rican companies Conducen SRL and Sajiplast S.A.
The IICA's (Inter-American Institute for Agricultural Cooperation) quick guide on the basics that the exporter must consider when defining logistics for export.
INTRODUCTION
The term logistics appears for the first time in the military referring to both the acquisition of equipment and materials for a mission and the timely mobilization of data and supplies.
The agriculture ministers of the region agreed to organize and unify the phytosanitary regulations of the TLC maintained with the United States and the treaty that is being negotiated with the EU.
In its website, Nacion.com publishes: "The ministers will also discuss the possibility to implement ´purchases of farm supplies and bulk foods to cheapen the costs of importing,´ as well as the creation of a 'basic grains storage network in the region,´ clarified the spokesperson."
Abraham Lowenthall rediscovered the isthmus 25 ago and analyzes the changes that have occurred during that period.
In his column published in America Economia, the analyst asks us to "Imagine that your twin brother will wake up today from a 25 year coma and asks you for a report on the main changes that have occurred in Central America, what will you tell him?
Since yesterday 99% of Costa Rican exports will enter the US market tariff-free.
According Elheraldo.hn, "the United States is Costa Rica's main trading partner and buys half of its exports at over 9 billion dollars annually; however demand could fall due to the financial crisis that is affecting the US economy.
It is expected that telecommunications and insurance will absorb most of the foreign investment as these are sectors that will soon be open to private competition as a result of the the FTA, after decades of State monopoly."
Central America is blessed with natural resources and has a population of approximately 35 million people.
Nonetheless, poverty is a merciless scourge. 50% of Guatemala's population is in the poverty threshold. Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the Americas, surpassed only by Haiti. 8 out of every 10 Nicaraguan live on less than $2 per day, and 48% are below the poverty line. Honduras barely does better than Haiti and Nicaragua.