Companies that are certified as AEOs are able to reduce paperwork and are given priority at customs offices.
Like Costa Rica and Guatemala, Panama is now using the AEO program. Companies interested in obtaining certification should contact the National Customs Authority.
From a statement issued by the Presidency of Panama:
A program to certify private sector companies dedicated to foreign trade and which is regulated by customs rules was launched on Wednesday by the Government of the Republic of Panama, through the National Customs Authority (ANA).
In protest against the slow pace with which procedures are processed at customs offices, a group of customs managers and truck drivers have blocked off the entrance to the terminal facilities.
Soy502.com reports that on Friday afternoon "... a group of about 350 people blocked access to facilities of the Port of Santo Tomas de Castilla." The blockades started on Wednesday, March 9, causing delays and discomfort for exporters and importers.
Businessmen are complaining about erroneous charges being levied by Customs on exempted companies, courier shipments or cargo that does not even reach the borders.
The incorrect application of the new rules on the charge of $18 which applies in Salvadoran customs offices for the use of X-rays starting from 1 January 2016, is causing problems and provoked a reaction by seven private sector unions that form the Intergremial Commission for Trade Facilitation (Cifacil).
In September, the IMAE grew by 4.1% compared to the same month in 2014, driven by agriculture, which grew by 13%, and transport and communications, which increased by 10%.
The report of the Central Bank of Nicaragua:
In September, the monthly index of economic activity (IMAE) grew by 4.1 percent compared to September last year. Meanwhile, the average annual variation stood at 3.8 percent and cumulative growth in the January-September period was 3.5 percent.
Private operators which were previously authorized to operate in the customs area will no longer do so and it will be the Port of Quetzal the responsible for the public role of customs clearing.
The amendments are intended to improve general customs controls and functions after the fraud network that operated from inside of the Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT) was dismantled.
Despite innumerable meetings of leaders and officials who frequently express their willingness to act on the issue, customs transit continues to be the main factor affecting logistics costs for regional trade.
At the first congress of freight transport in El Salvador once again the problem that continues to prevent the region achieving greater commercial development, was brought to the light.
Problems in making online payments and in the operation of customs have worsened since the fraud network was dismantled.
The dismantling of the network of officials taking advantage of their positions to commit customs fraud has worsened the problems that often affect businesses which have to interact with the Tax Administration. An online system which is down much of the time and additional delays at customs posts are part of the problems affecting commercial activity in the country.
Arrests have been made of Omar Franco Alvaro Chacón, head of the Superintendency of Tax Administration and Carlos Enrique Muñoz Roldán, former head the SAT, and 19 other senior officials, employees and individuals.
From a statement issued by the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG):
CUSTOMS FRAUD NETWORK DISMANTLED
Chief and former head of the SAT Captured
The agreement between the two governments states that as of December 15, 2015 customs offices at common borders will suspend their tax functions and allow the free movement of goods and people.
From a statement issued by the Government of Guatemala:
64 years after having started the process of Central American integration, the presidents of Guatemala, Otto Pérez Molina, and Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernandez, signed a historic agreement for a customs union between the two nations today, from which it is expected that economic growth of 15% will be produced in the short term. The agreement aims to eliminate the three land crossings on the borders of the two countries.
Despite the antiquity of the efforts for Central American integration and for the Customs Union the obstacles to trade between the countries on the isthmus presented by customs offices are notorious.
The Federation of Chambers and Associations of Exporters of Central America (Fecaxca) is once again calling for policies and common strategies for standards and customs procedures.
In order to expedite intraregional trade it is necessary for customs offices dealing with cargo freight, to be open all hours, just as immigration customs offices are.
A study commissioned by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Central America (Fecamco) concluded that there are 87 barriers to trade in the region, one of the major ones being operations of the systems at customs offices at borders, followed by bureaucratic requirements and lack of adequate infrastructure.
A month after having implemented it only 12% of importers have registered and less than 1% of users use it for their foreign trade operations.
To date only 4,700 users have registered their company details with the VAI electronic platform designed to handle the issue of non-tariff import permits. The importer enters their forms, makes the corresponding payments electronically, sends the information to the institution, receives a response and this allows them to access the Customs Declaration reported in an electronic permit which the user receives.
European business people have criticised errors made by customs officials in implementing the terms of the Association Agreement.
After three months of the entry into force of the Association Agreement between Central America and the European Union, a lack of knowledge on the part of customs authorities has complicated the implementation of the trade agreement, as explained by the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Spain (CAMACOES) Italy (Camcig) and Germany.
Pressures on the customs sector have ensured that the ruling includes its recommendations, diluting the threat of strikes in customs offices.
The bill on the Agile Import Counter (VAI by its initials in Spanish) is looking for approval in Congress after the approval of resolutions. The union is expecting the promises it was made to be fulfilled.
The Corporation of Guatemala Customs Agents (CAAG) reported that, "the Presidential Commissioner Juan Carlos Paiz, will be responsible for making changes to the initiative of the respective law and submitting them to Congress no later than Monday March 10. "
Starting February 25th, goods declaration documents will be transmitted electronically to the Customs Service Information System.
From February 25th Documents Supporting Declaration of Goods in the Customs System Information Service will be transmitted electronically. This is a pilot program that will start running in the Customs Office of Puerto Barrios, Izabal and then will gradually be implemented in all customs offices in the country.