The government has announced preparations for the purchase of food abroad to minimize the impact that drought has had on grain crops and their prices in the local market.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA) has announced that reserves established by the authorities will be sufficient to meet demand in September, but in October imports will be necessary.
Technical assistance and training will be provided for the public institutions who will be involved in the implementation of the agreement.
"AA-Integration Project" will take place in a period of 80 months with a $11.6 million investment, of which $9.1 million will be provided by the European Union and the rest by the Guatemalan government.
The project will be implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Guatemala.
After a year and a half of being in force the law is being applied partially and no processes have been established nor have improvements been made to the existing ones.
This was explained by Jean Paul Brichaux, executive director of the Council of International Transport Users in Guatemala (Cutrigua).
Although it was created because of the lack of a customs legislation that establishes sanctions and penalties, since its adoption in 2012 the National Customs Act has not been implemented in a propper manner. From the outset the Government has waived fines for disagreements that have existed with the business sector.
Guatemala is not getting ready for the entry into force in January 2015 of a U.S. policy which establishes inspection systems for containers at the ports of departure.
Guatemala is running the risk of not being able to sell its products to the United States, seeing as authorities have not placed any importance on the implementation of the Initiative for Safe Containers (Container Security Initiative-CSI).
The exemption of fines for customs offenses will be extended, for the sixth time, until December 15.
The exemption which was to expire on 15 September will be extended until 15 December.
"We are extending the agreement because there is a new Intendent of Customs and we do not want to generate distortion in operations. We believe this will be the last extension to be given," said Pavel Centeno, Minister of Finance, yesterday.
The negotiations for a partial agreement between the two countries are in their final stages, with signing expected to happen in September.
According to the Guatemalan Vice Minister of Economy, Maria Luisa Flores, "the economy of Trinidad and Tobago is one of the largest in the Caribbean region and it is of interest to Guatemala as it represents the gateway to the Caribbean Community market (Caricom) ".
The Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said that approving the trade agreement between the two countries will increase bilateral trade volume.
"We hope that very soon the Congress of Guatemala will ratify it, as this will trigger trade relations to continue to grow more and more," said Peña Nieto, who during his speech at the Guatemala Investment Summit, said that in the last 12 years bilateral trade has quadrupled.
Those countries who have not ratified the Association Agreement with the European Union are at risk of losing markets compared to other Central American nations.
In an interview in Siglo21.com.gt by Celso Solano, with the ambassador to the European Union in Guatemala, Stella Zervoudaki, the official explained that there will not be any sanctions if Guatemala fails to ratify the agreement on or before May 15, but the country faces other threats.
In light of an announcement by the Guatemalan government that they are looking for more beef suppliers, Colombia is making preparations.
From an article by the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food in Guatemala (MAGA) reported that it will be evaluating new suppliers in light of a possible meat shortage caused by an increase in prices in the country.
Complaints have been sent to WTO over Peru's tariffs for agricultural products which are modified according to changes in international commodity prices.
"Peruvian trade policy on agricultural products establishes a price range as a stabilization mechanism. This measure allows tariffs to rise or fall according to international prices," noted an article in Elcomercio.pe.