The Chamber of Industry of Guatemala has submitted to the Constitutional Court an appeal against 14 items in the Laws of Taxation and Anti Evasion II.
"We see abuse in the functions that the SAT is acquiring in this new law," said Andres Castillo, president of the Chamber of Industry of Guatemala (CIG).
The actions are in addition to those raised weeks ago by MPs, businessmen and the chambers of Commerce and Agriculture, noted an article in Siglo21.com.gt.
The Government will provide $5 million to support small coffee producers affected by the plague, and is looking at reducing the rates of the loans granted by the Coffee Trust to 2%.
The Guatemalan government today declared a phytosanitary emergency because of the rust attack while offering $5 million to support small coffee producers.
According to the Vice President of Guatemala, Roxana Baldetti, the state will take care of small producers, who account for 45% of farmers in the country. "The aid will focus on families that are impacted by unemployment in the sector", she added.
Two bills before the Guatemalan Congress are seeking free competition in medicines, including foreign manufacturers.
A bill submitted by the Lider party, also plans to exclude open contracts. "The goal of the new law would be free competition in medicines including non-national producers, facilitating imports in order to lower prices," said Edgar Ajcip from the Lider party.
The Government of Guatemala has announced a purchasing system with unified prices and without intervention from distributers .
In order to avoid differences in the prices paid by different state institutions "involved in the reconstruction process, both in Infrastructure as well as housing" for the required construction materials, a collaboration of manufacturers has been set up in order to get discounts of up to 40%, using direct purchases with the intervention of the usual intermediaries.
Anti smuggling operations are working, resulting in tax collections by Customs grow by 3%.
From a publication in Diario de Centro América:
Working together to reduce smuggling
The first quarterly report of the National Commission Against Contraband (CONACON) contains encouraging news: From June to September smuggling has been reduced and customs revenue increased 3%.
The government has announced the start of a process to attract investment for the construction of two new international airports.
The government's commitment is to build an airport for cargo in the Pacific coast, near the present Naval Base runway, in Puerto de San Jose, and one for tourists on the Atlantic coast, in the Database air Izabal.
The announcement was made by Vice President of the Republic, Roxana Baldetti, who added, "We're trying to do this using the Public-Private Partnership Act because the state does not have the resources to do it on its own and we are thinking that an investment of this nature could be made next year. "
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.
The mere announcement of reforms to the Constitution of Guatemala stops investment because of the removal of confidence and legal security for companies that might come to the country.
During a forum held by the Managers Association of Guatemala (AGG), concern was expressed over the constitutional reform process initiated by President Otto Perez Molina, and the excessive speed in the adoption of new standards such as the Customs and Tax Reform Act, whose implementation has created difficulties for companies.