President Porfirio Lobo Sosa has confirmed that there are clear intentions to open diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China.
A statement from the Presidency of Honduras reads:
President Lobo Sosa confirms intention to open diplomatic relations with China
President Porfirio Lobo Sosa, confirmed on Wednesday that there are clear intentions to open diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, a situation that should not affect relations with Taiwan.
More than 4,000 documents related to foreign trade, competitiveness, economic development, production, international economics and international law will be available.
The Virtual and Physical Library of the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (AGEXPORT), is open to all its members and the general public, making it possible for all materials and digital content which is available in physical format to be consulted via Internet (available only as Infoexport query).
It opens up opportunities for some and leaves others doubting the real opportunities to compete with the production of U.S. goods, especially agricultural ones.
Laprensa.com.pa reports that the entry into force of the TPC eliminates in Panama "tariffs for 86% of U.S. industrial and consumer goods, and the remaining ones will be reduced gradually. The U.S yesterday signed the document which excludes Panama as a beneficiary of several U.S.
In the as yet unquantified number of meetings held, organizers estimate that sales achieved in the year 2012 exceeds $29 million.
Azucena Castillo, general manager of the Association of Producers and Exporters of Nicaragua (APEN), when talking about the issue added that this means a new record in terms of purchase intentions on the part of participants.
On 12 and 13 October, a trade mission comprised of thirty French companies will hold meetings with their regional counterparts.
Organized by the Central American - French Chamber of Commerce (CFCCI) the meeting seeks closer ties between the two countries, both in trade and investment.
Jérémie De Contes, the executive director of the CFCCI, said the sectors of energy, agriculture, tourism and telecommunications have great potential in future negotiations.
Costa Rica business associations are calling for better management of the free trade agreements that have already been signed, stopping the search for others.
According to the Costa Rican Chamber of the Food Industry (Cacia), first existing agreements should be better managed before searching for new ones.
Meanwhile, the Chamber of Industries of Costa Rica (ICRC) has seen exports to several countries where there are free trade agreements (FTAs) decrease.
A regulation for the implementation and administration of customs provisions and Rules of Origin established in the Trade Promotion Agreement has been adopted.
A statement by the Presidency of Panama reads:
Cabinet approves new measures on route to enactment of TPA with EU
The Cabinet Council approved, on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 21, new measures which point towards the coming into force of the Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) with the United States. This time it is a Cabinet Decree in which regulations are promulgated for the implementation and administration of certain provisions for customs and rules of origin set out in Chapters 3, 4, 5 and 14 of the TPA between the U.S. and Panama .
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Ricardo Quijano said that issues relating to labor, industrial and intellectual property, have already been finalized in the negotiations.
Minister Quijano insisted that there need be no cause for concern for Panamanian businessmen, because "there have been no changes to the Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) signed."
In order to increase trade between both countries, the UK Embassy in El Salvador will hold an event about importing goods from Britain.
The purpose of the meeting is to encourage British entrepreneurs to invest in the Salvadoran market, said Ambassador Linda Cross. She also added to the media that a group of British businessmen together with representatives of the Salvadoran Agency for Investment Promotion and Attraction (Proesa) and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of El Salvador are analyzing the implementation of a trade agreement to strengthen business relationships which will come about as a result of the new Association Agreement with the European Union.
Goods vehicles can not pass through customs posts at the Salvadoran border, where Treasury officials are on strike.
Various business groups have expressed concern about the strike, which is causing serious economic losses for businesses.
Regarding this, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in El Salvador states that "We have learned from our partners that the suspension of customs duties has already begun to generate losses of perishable products, delays in delivery times and possible shortages of basic goods, especially vegetables from other countries in the region and those that supply El Salvador. "
The AACUE now must be approved by the legislatures of the countries involved.
A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Trade in Costa Rica (COMEX) reads:
Association Agreement between Central America and the European Union ready for signing
San Jose, June 25, 2012. Today the Council of Ministers of the European Union authorized the signing of the Association Agreement between Central America and the European Union (EU-CAAA) on Friday June 29 in Honduras. The Ministers of Foreign Trade and the Foreign Ministers of the region will sign the document, along with the Trade Commissioner of the European Union and the Danish Foreign Minister, in a formal ceremony under the framework of the Summit of Heads of State and Government of member countries of the System for Central American Integration (SICA).
"There will be no FTA with Costa Rica without clear rules of origin that prevent the country being merely a bridge for U.S. goods going to Jamaica"
An article in Insidecostarica.com contains quotes by Anthony Hylton, Minister of Industry and Investment in Jamaica, concerning a possible free trade agreement with Costa Rica.
Hilton emphasized the need for Costa Rica to implement an effective management program in order to determine the origin of goods, for the FTA between both countries to be viable.
Between 2 and 9 July, the Ministry of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica will be consulting different sectors who have already expressed their opposition to the move.
Representatives from businesses and industrial food sectors announced their stiff resistance to negotiations on a free trade agreement whose first round begins July 30 in Colombia, revealing that they will request the exclusion of various products from the agreement.
The Zone’s directors expect more freight movement, further processing of products and employment generation.
Economic growth in the Colon Free Zone is unquestionable. The volume of exports and imports in 2011 reached $29.126 billion, growing by 56% over the past three years.
The area has about 3,000 users, which together employ 32,000 people. 75% of goods entering the zone are redistributed to other destinations in the world, while the remaining amount enters Panama.