Negotiations have started to incorporate El Salvador into the Customs Union that is already functioning, albeit partially and with some setbacks, between Guatemala and Honduras.
Internal taxes, customs procedures, migration, tariffs and sanitary and phytosanitary permits are some of the issues to be addressed in the first round of negotiations between the Salvadoran government and its Guatemalan and Honduran counterparts.
The trade union of Salvadoran exporters has already started the process to participate in the negotiation rounds to join the Customs Union between Guatemala and Honduras.
The private sector will be part of the negotiation process that has just begun to incorporate El Salvador and Nicaragua into the Customs Union which is already in force between Guatemala and Honduras.
Exporters have reported inconsistencies in the system of non-intrusive inspections at customs offices in El Salvador.
Exporters are complaining they have paid the $18 fee more than once for scanned inspections of the same container. This is because "in some cases they are charging per product declaration issued not per the number of containers, in other words, if a container has more than one product then you must pay the fee for each one ...".
Salvadoran exporters are asking for clarification over the regulation that puts on hold the fee of $18 per inspection of goods.
The Corporation of Exporters of El Salvador (Coexport) asked the Government to clarify which goods have to be inspected at customs and pay the $18 fee. They explain that there is confusion occurring at the regional level which must be addressed.
The sector, which was ready to export 10,000 tonnes of sugar to the European Union, must wait two more months to do so.
Non-acceptance by dairy farmers in El Salvador and Costa Rica of the geographical indicators for Italian cheeses has caused a delay of at least 60 days of the entry into force of the Association Agreement with the EU.
"We were ready to export, but if there is no treaty we will have to send the sugar to another market at a lower price than would have been paid by the Europe" said Julio Arroyo, CEO of the Sugar Association of El Salvador.