Changes implemented at customs posts have led to a reduction in the average time it takes to release containers, and tax collections in the first half of the year have increased by almost 30%.
Adjustments made to the processes by the Presidential Commission for Comprehensive Reform of the Customs and Trade Operators System (Coprisao) have reduced the time it takes for a container to be releasedto less than two days, well below the 12 to 20 days that the process took before the changes.
Simplification of the import process in Acajutla and a reduction in delivery times of goods for export are part of the changes announced by the Ministry of Finance.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance:
The Ministry of Finance, through the Directorate General of Customs, announces the implementation of measures that will improve the flow of goods, transit and people and in turn, reduce the time it takes to carry out procedures for Salvadoran exports, all in order to decongest borders and make controls more agile:
Starting April chambers of commerce in the region will be providing free training on phytosanitary controls, management at border posts and customs procedures for exporting firms.
From a statement issued by the Chamber of Commerce of Costa Rica:
As of April, the Chamber of Commerce of Costa Rica will be running a training program on trade facilitation for the public and private sector, within the framework of a cooperation agreement signed between the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Central America (FECAMCO) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to implement the USAID Regional Project on Trade and Market Partnerships.
From February 23rd a pilot plan will be operating, which aims to accelerate the time it takes to process carriers operating at the border.
From a statement issued by the Guatemalan Exporters Association (Agexport):
The Single Window for Exports (VUPE) and CUTRIGUA, announced that as of February 23, 2015, a pilot project will start which aims to facilitate trade at border crossings.
Central America must improve the quality standards of its products, learn more about the consumers and simplify processes in order to take advantage of the opportunities of the Agreement with the European Union.
In order to maximize the opportunities provided by the Association Agreement which has been signed with the European Union (EU), Central American companies must have a better understanding of the European market, which has more than 500 million consumers who are demanding in terms of quality and food safety. Furthermore, it is essential to simplify export procedures in order to expedite the process of obtaining permits and other procedures which are reducing export competitiveness in Central America.
An announcement has been made that the system of international transfer of goods is now operating normally after having experienced problems since July 29.
The system used by exporters and importers for international transit operations is now operating normally, after having reported failures which had been delaying the operations of carriers since Tuesday 29 July.
The forestry sector has indicated there is arbitrariness on the part of the authorities in the implementation of the new law and bureaucratic barriers to production and exports.
Manufacturers and exporters of wooden have complained to the authorities of the National Forestry Institute (Inafor) over lack of precision in the implementation of the law, creating delays and cost overruns in the marketing process of wood.
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.
Businessmen are proposing that the management of customs cease to be the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance and instead be managed by a company from the private sector.
In order to streamline the procedures for customs and facilitate intraregional trade Salvadoran businessmen have prepared a series of proposals to the government, including the creation of a Customs Superintendent managed jointly by the public and private sectors.
Problems persist in the process of reviewing merchandise at the border posts in Amatillo and La Hachadura causing delays to cargo trucks.
Double review processes, recurring failures with x-ray machine inspection and the absence of a contingency plan for unforeseen delays has generated delays of between 19 and 23 hours for the approval of entry and exit of goods, said the Salvadoran Association of International Freight Carriers (ASTIC).
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.
Exporters are complaining because customs clearance procedures at the port terminal which used to be completed in three days now take 20.
Ever since Operadora Portuaria Centroamericana assumed control of operation of the cargo terminal at Puerto Cortes, the processes for inspections and unloading have delayed goods by considerably more days than before, raising costs for exporters and importers, who have to wait up to 20 days to take their products out of the port.
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.
Now we transport thousands of tons of goods in fast trucks, we dispatch proformas and invoices online ... and there are still customs agencies.
EDITORIAL
The controversy which arose in Guatemala over the proposed creation of the Agile Import Window (VAI by its initials in Spanish) is as old as the world. Not going too far back into the past, we know that when in the late nineteenth century cars began to circulate, in many places the speed of their movement was restricted so that they would not go faster than a horse and buggy, and there were many who protested that this invention would put drivers of carts out of work along with horses and cattle breeders.
An announcement has been made of a beta version of a digital platform for paperwork and export permits which is integrated with related institutions.
From a press release by the Ministry of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica :
This morning (yesterday) PROCOMER launched the beta version of Single Window for Foreign Trade (VUCE) 2.0 a project that will revolutionize the export sector and domestic importer, offering an interoperable platform ( with approvals in minutes) between the 16 state institutions state that are involved in foreign trade procedures.