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).
There is a requirement to avoid duplicate collection of customs duties levied on imports in order to meet the provisions of the trade pact with the European Union.
The commissioner of Customs at the Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT) in Guatemala, Oscar Funes, referred to the commitments made by the region in the signing of the Association Agreement between Central America and the European Union, signed on 29 June.
The Association Agreement between the region and the EU will start without having completed the process of a customs union, and without having created a common tariff.
This is what officials declared at the European Union Trade Commission, "there are marked differences between the Central American nations that can not be dissolved by sheer force, because they have come about by historic events."
Representatives of the Central American countries involved have made progress in harmonizing customs tariffs.
Agreements were achieved relating to the customs classification of various products including LED lights, van type vehicles with one row of seats and washer-dryer machines).
La Prensa Libre reports that, "The food and drink category discussions also finalized 'Central America's Technical Regulations for the Use of Food Additives' but one country's review is still pending. This regulation is necessary in order to establish mutual recognition of the health standards for food processing".
The European Union again noted its interest in an integrated Central America where there is a free flow of investments, goods and services.
The seventh round of negotiations of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Central America opened in Honduras with the explicit indication by Petros Mavromichalis, political negotiator of the EU that "regional integration remains a subject of great importance for us.
Progress made by the Central American Isthmus regarding integration do no meet the expectations of the European Union.
Although they are aware that the topic depends on the will of the region's governments, they are expecting that the integration and customs union will advance at a rhythm similar to that of negotiations for the agreement of association.
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