Because the current legal framework is ineffective, Guatemalan entrepreneurs in the food sector are asking the government to draft a new law that would criminalize smuggling and also consider it a matter of national security.
Directives of the Guatemalan Chamber of Food and Beverages (CGAB) assure that the current Decree 58-90 "Law Against Fraud and Contraband" is obsolete and does not allow for direct and frontal combat against contraband.
Reduced times to move goods through customs posts and an increase in bilateral trade are some of the results of the first year of the Customs Union between Guatemala and Honduras.
Twelve months after the entry into force of the treaty between the two countries, trade figures have favored the two Central American countries. In 2017, exports from Honduras to Guatemala totaled $384 million, 16% more than in 2016, and sales made from Guatemala to Honduras amounted to $967 million, which is equivalent to a 6% increase.
Completion has been announced of the pilot phase of the Central American Invoice and Single Declaration, and the process for the actual tests with companies is expected to start in the second week of May.
The Guatemalan government reported that the pilot tests for the transmission of the Central American Invoice and Single Declaration - FYDUCA - (a document that will record the purchase and legal tenancy of goods between Guatemala and Honduras) was successful, meaning that they are now in the adjustment phase.
Losses of up to $1 million a day in exports are being reported due to demonstrations which have closed off Customs offices in Tecun Uman, El Carmen and La Mesilla for the last 8 days.
Although the union of exporters has tried to contact the Mexican authorities to end the blockade that is preventing the free movement of goods from Guatemala to Mexico, the problem has not been resolved and customs offices have now been paralyzed for eight days.
As reported at the end of 2015, from February 16 a reduction from 15% to 13.8% will be in effect on the import duty incurred on chicken rump.
The tax paid by importers for rump chicken went from 15% in 2015 to 13.8% in 2016, confirmed the Deputy Minister of Integration and Foreign Trade, Enrique Lacs to Siglo21.com.gt.