The National Rice Corporation states that adhering to the regional initiative blights what has been achieved in bilateral agreements with each country in the Alliance.
The Costa Rican agro industry has closed ranks against the country's accession to the Pacific Alliance. Both producers and the minister himself, Luis Felipe Arauz, have stated that the agreement is unfavorable for products such as rice, coffee, swine, beef cattle, ornamental flowers and strawberry growers.
They argue that joining the bloc offers growth potential for commercial partners who to date represent only 4% of total exports.
Enrique Egloff, president of the Chamber of Industries of Costa Rica provided support for this with figures which show that in 2015 Costa Rica's exports to the countries in the Pacific Alliance totaled $377 million and imports $1.786 billion.
Fifteen years after the first approach was made, the countries have not reached an agreement on the conditions of entry of products such as textiles, meat and sugar.
Since 2001, Guatemala and Canada have been trying to close negotiations to create a free trade area between the two markets. Besides pending negotiations related to phytosanitary issues, labor and environment, the definition of the terms of trade of products such as sugar, textiles, beef and pork has still not been made concrete, and there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
The basis for the agreement have been established, with Panama having achieved immediate preferential access for various agricultural and fisheries products, and access through quotas for beef, pineapple, papaya and tropical fruits.
After four rounds of negotiations between teams from each government, a basic document was created setting out the conditions of entry of products and services to each market.
In the first round held in South Korea modalities and staging categories for trade were defined.
In Seoul, Korea, the First Round of Negotiations of the Free Trade Agreement between Central America and -TLC- South Korea was held.
After signing the general framework of negotiations last July, the Central American Work teams met from 21 to 25 September, with their counterparts from the Ministry of Trade, Economy and Energy of South Korea.
The trade agreement, which began in 2010, regulates, among other things, issues related to market access, rules of origin, customs procedures and trade facilitation.
From a statement issued by the National Congress of Honduras:
The treaty is part of the business strategy to improve market access conditions; and at the same time, establish clear rules and disciplines that promote trade in goods and services and investment.
Honey, flowers, coffee, textiles and tropical fruit are among the products that can take advantage of the tariff conditions of the trade agreement with Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland.
The free trade agreement with EFTA, comprising Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland opens the doors to four countries with high purchasing power and complementary conditions in Guatemala in the production and marketing of certain products.
Central American governments have now signed the General Framework agreement with China so that negotiations can start in October.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Trade in Guatemala:
Guatemala, July 31, 2015. Central America is prepared to negotiate as a bloc, a Free Trade Agreement with South Korea. Therefore, the deputy ministers in charge of foreign trade and trade negotiations in the region met yesterday in San Salvador, and agreed to and signed the General Framework for this negotiation.
Progress was made on issues of market access, services, customs administration and trade facilitation, intellectual property, investment, rules of origin, trade remedies and cooperation.
On the issue of rules of origin, the Deputy Minister of Trade Negotiations in Panama told EFE that "... we were able to review the 17 items that were pending and practically agreed on nine others which have been left for the next meeting."
The government has filed a request for entry as an observer to CARICOM and has proposed to the Caribbean block the start of negotiations for a free trade agreement.
The negotiation of a trade agreement with the bloc would increase the exchange of agricultural and manufactured goods, and improve the position of Panama as a logistics hub and tourist destination among the Caribbean countries.
The free trade agreement with Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland will grant free access to these countries for 77% of primary agricultural products and those processed in Guatemala.
The entry into force of the FTA now depends on the approval of Congress and subsequent ratification by the Executive.
Dca.gob.gt specifies that "... the EFTA grants free access to 77% of primary and processed agricultural products from Guatemala, 10% of goods will have tariff preferences and 13% are excluded ... Guatemala meanwhile granted free access to 43.8 percent of primary and processed agricultural products, an additional 29 percent were liberalized in periods of 5 to 10 years, 0.8 percent will enjoy tariff preferences and 0.2 percent on a tariff quota to Switzerland, excluding 26.1 percent of articles.... ".
Several years after conversations began, Central America and South Korea finally started the formal negotiations for a free trade agreement.
From a statement issued by the Government of Guatemala:
In Houston, Texas, the Minister of Economy of Guatemala, Sergio de la Torre, and his Central American counterparts in charge of foreign trade, met with Korean Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy Yoon Sang-Jick, to start negotiating the Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of Korea and the Central American republics.
The government of Daniel Ortega has announced that it expects to begin negotiating a free trade agreement with the South American country.
Peru is moving closer to Nicaragua , and has agreed to initiate a process of strengthening trade, as a first step towards signing a Free Trade Agreement.
As stated ion Elnuevodiario.com.ni Daniel Ortega has affirmed that "...
The government is waiting for more technical studies and analyzing the effects it would have on local production if entry of goods and services from Chile, Peru, Mexico and Colombia were fully liberalized .
Although the previous Chinchilla administration had taken firm steps to join the trade bloc, the current President Solis, has cooled down the process, which in order to continue must wait for the Ministry of Foreign Trade to complete further studies on commercial sensitivity, and later present them for public consultation.
Colombian Congress has given final approval to the text of the Free Trade Agreement between Colombia and Costa Rica, which now must be considered by the Constitutional Court.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism of Colombia:
Bogota, DC, June 16, 2015. The plenary of the House of Representatives approved in a final debate a bill that gives life to the Free Trade Agreement between Colombia and Costa Rica, which will pass on to be reviewed by the Constitutional Court.