The Tax Authority of Guatemala has denied the existence of a consensus among Central American countries to implement a unified charge.
The Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT) of Guatemala denied that there is a consensus among countries to implement a one-time charge for reviewing scanned merchandise flowing through the region, as announced by the Directorate General of Customs of El Salvador.
Carriers have blocked the entry and exit of cargo as a protest against the Honduran National Port Company (Empresa Nacional Portuaria de Honduras).
From Tuesday 25 cargo carriers have kept access to the Port of Honduras blocked in protest at the slow service and new charges. The export sector is concerned about the condition of goods which need to be sold as soon as possible in the U.S. market to ensure their quality.
El Salvador is proposing implementing a single charge for non intrusive inspection of goods at borders with Guatemala and Honduras.
The Directorate General of Customs (DGA) announced that Central American countries could implement a single charge for intrusive inspection of goods. Guatemala and Honduras have shown interest in this system proposed by El Salvador.
Congress has confirmed the exemption from payment of $18 for non intrusive inspections of all goods, including exports and imports.
The suspension of the payment of $18 for the X-ray inspection of the goods will be for six months from its publication in the Official newspaper, providing President Funes endorses it.
From a press release issued by the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador:
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 and importers will continue to pay the $18 fee per load and only goods passing through will be exempt from the fee.
The authentic interpretation of the decree eliminating a charge of $18 for the non-intrusive inspection services at Salvadoran Customs offices was vetoed by President Mauricio Funes. Salvadoran exporters and importers will continue to pay the $18 fee per load and only goods passing through will be exempt from the fee.
During 2013 the aviation and maritime transport of goods increased by 6.5 % compared to the previous year.
Last year the amount of goods transported air was 61,429,000 kilograms, representing an increase of 6.5% compared with 2012, when 57,066,000 kilograms was moved, according to statistics from the Committee on Imports and Exports (Combex Im).
"In the case of maritime transport, statistics from the National Port Commission (NPC) indicate that the ports handled cargo of 20 million 376 thousand metric tons (MT) in 2013 , equivalent to an increase of 10% , ie 1.9 million MT more than in the previous cycle. "
The regional union is bringing charges to the Central American Court of Justice over what it considers to be undue customs fees in El Salvador.
The American Federation of Freight (Fecatrans) announced that it is preparing a lawsuit against El Salvador at the Central American Court of Justice (CCJ). The union is complaining about the fees that carriers pay at customs offices in that country, which it considers improper.
A new non-intrusive inspection process at the port is causing delays and making container movement more costly.
The Corporation of Exporters of El Salvador (COEXPORT) reported delays at the Port of Acajutla due to a new non-intrusive inspection, which has caused problems and delays in the movement of containers.
"... You're spending more because the container is inspected until it is stowed.
While in customs offices the $18 fee is still being charged, those employers affected by it are concerned and are asking for a refund of what they have already paid.
The Chamber of Commerce of El Salvador (CCES) expects the authentic interpretation of the decree exempting the charge for the service of non-intrusive inspection of exports and imports and international transit of goods, to be published soon in the Official Journal, as the $18 fee is still being charged at the borders of the country.
The suspension of payment for customs inspections in El Salvador applies to goods in international transit and those with a local destination.
From a press release issued by the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador:
The Legislature has approved an authentic interpretation of Decree 604, approved on January 16, which contains exceptional and transitional provisions applied to the "Customs Simplification Act" to suspended for a period of 180 days, the fee for the provision of non-intrusive inspections, whose office of departure and destination are within or outside the borders of El Salvador.
The aim of the reduction in the toll rate for the Palin-Escuintla highway is to attract drivers who use the old road to the South Coast.
The cost of the toll on the Palin-Escuintla highway will be $2.68 for interurban buses and trucks with two axles, $4.08 for trucks with three axles, $5.49 for those with four, $6.89 for five and $8,17 for the six axle trucks.
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.
Nicaraguan products will be able to go directly to the ports of Costa Rica and Panama at less cost than by land.
The new Naviera Mercante Nicaragüense (Namenic) will have a direct sea connection from the Port of Corinto with Costa Rica and Panama. The aim is to speed up freight, which currently enters or exits by land as well as lowering the cost of transporting goods.
The authorities at customs offices in Guatemala and Honduras have opened new routes for regional transit of goods between the two countries.
The aim of the opening of new routes at the borders between the two countries, in El Florido and Agua Caliente, is to streamline regional trade which has been blocked because of the protests over the application of a fee of $18 in Salvadoran customs offices for X-ray inspection of trucks.