Some of the reforms that Congress is studying refer to customs penalties and operation of the courts for Customs issues.
The National Federation of Honduran Customs Agents (Fenaduanah) outlined to the chairman of the National Congress what the industry needs are and legal changes required to improve competitiveness in the country's customs offices and expedite trade.
Nicaraguan businessmen will meet with the government to request procedures that avoid the variability of current customs clearance.
The private enterprise aims to put in place mechanisms that eliminate the discretion applied by officials in the process of customs clearance of imports, in meetings with the Government scheduled for today.
The executive director of the Chamber of Commerce of Nicaragua (Caconic), Eduardo Fonseca, said that "normally the problems revolve around the valuation of goods. But the discretion is not applied by officials in the assessment, because the value of the good might always be questioned, and if such is the case, the good should be directed to a specific process ".
The National Competitiveness Program of Guatemala has announced that the Executive will introduce a draft bill to Congress to replace existing customs regulations.
Under pressure from the Guatemalan business sector, the executive has presented a new initiative to Congress, which has already been agreed with various chambers of commerce, said Juan Carlos Pais, Presidential Commissioner for Competitiveness.
Among the changes requested by the Guatemalan private sector, are the elimination of insurance for theft of goods in transit and the current billing method.
Private sector representatives together with the Tax Authority (SAT) are working on a draft for a new law, which introduces changes to almost 80% of the current Customs Act.
"... The American Chamber of Commerce has asked for changes to the billing method prescribed in current law, which provides for the entry of the net price of the merchandise. It opposed the $250 fines for invoices that do not comply with the new format, and also severe measures such as the suspension of customs agents. It is alsoagainst criminalizing a shipment arriving which is, for example, 5 percent over weight or over value", reports Elperiodico.com. gt.
By Governmental Accord administrative customs offenses punishable by a fine, and their cumulative effects, will be exempted until September 15, 2012.
The Governmental Accord 121-2012 from the Ministry of Finance states that it has “agreed to waive, for a term expiring on June 15, 2012, up to one hundred percent (100%) of fines to any individual or legal person incurred in some of the administrative customs offenses punishable by a fine established by the National Customs Law contained in Book III of Decree No. 10-2012 of the Congress.”
After further requests for extending fine exemptions and a comprehensive reform of the Customs Act, the government has responded saying that they will evaluate such requests.
The National Council for Promotion of Exports (CONAPEX), comprising representatives of the Executive and the private sector, called for an urgent reform of the Customs Act and the granting of another 90-day extension for exemptions from fines for violating the new customs regulations.