The Varela administration has applied a special agricultural safeguard to some porcine products imported from the United States, among which are hams, legs, shoulders and their pieces.
Arguing that up until July 16 of the current year, 3,506 metric tons of pork have entered the country, a volume that exceeds the 2,697 metric tons agreed for this year in the Trade Promotion Treaty, the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (Mici) resolved to increase the tariff on fifteen products imported from the USA.
Not fearing free trade, lowering tariffs and facilitating business development are some of the ingredients the Chilean export model that Central America could follow.
In an interview with Elfinancierocr.com, ProChile's director, Roberto Paiva, explained that one of the main reasons behind the success of his country's foreign trade model is the high degree of trade liberalization.Not only for having reduced tariffs, but also for"... 'having negotiated trade agreements. We have agreements with Europe and much of Asia. We don't yet have Africa.This opening not only lowers tariffs but brings us closer to the market and the business'. "
Three years after being signed, the Colombian Constitutional Court has approved the bilateral agreement that liberalizes 75% of industrial products over terms of 5 to 15 years.
This was the last institutional step needed to for the FTA between Costa Rica and Colombia, as the Central American country had completed all the necessary procedures, leaving only formal communication from Colombia to Costa Rica remaining, so that the agreement will go into force 60 days later.
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.... ".
The government has announced the signing of the process of incorporation, while business associations oppose the increased tariff liberalization which will come from membership of the group.
As part of the agreement of incorporation into the block of Pacific Alliance tariffs must be eliminated on 92% of the products and the remaining 8% will be gradually removed.
The Costa Rican Congress approved on its first reading a Free Trade Agreement which makes 71% of the market for goods and services in Colombia duty free.
On Monday, the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica approved on its first reading the Free Trade Agreement with Colombia. The entry into force of this trade agreement is needed in order to allow the Central American nation to join the Pacific Alliance.
Companies are preparing for the process of tariff reduction for imported goods and services from the United States under the FTA.
Starting 2015 various products will be able to come into Nicaragua from the U.S. tax free. Employers are now preparing for the tariff reduction process of the Free Trade Agreement between the U.S., Central America and Dominican Republic (DR -CAFTA).
The elimination of tariffs on agricultural products and flexible rules of origin for products such as tuna, textiles and plastics are part of the changes incorporated in the Agreement.
The Minister of Economy, Sergio de la Torre said that in the next few years Guatemala's exports to Europe could be doubled, as has happened with the other trade agreements that the Central American nation has signed.
The term of the decree allowing the border areas of Mexico to import goods at a significantly lower charge than in the rest of the country has been extended for three years.
According to the Mexican Finance Minister, Luis Videgaray, the decree was scheduled to end on Decemnber31 December, however, the term has been extended for another three years.
Another decision taken by the Mexican government is to close customs checkpoints on the border areas. "We will start gradually, but from today (Thursday) we are taking action to eliminate various Customs checkpoints located in states bordering the United States and Guatemala, though not exactly on the borders," said President Enrique Peña Nieto.
In the third round of FTA negotiations there will be discussions on opening of goods and services and what the tariff exclusions will be.
According to the authorities this is the round with the most difficult issues, such as the issue of "... opening and exclusions of tariff lines especially since there are interests on the part of both countries," noted an article in Capital.com. pa.
In the case of Panama, 40% of the negotiated tariff lines will receive 100% preferential rate.
Two years after the end of negotiations, both countries officially signed the Partial Scope Agreement.
Some of the products that will benefit Panamanians with this rate are live animals for breeding, fresh and chilled meats, fish, cheese, eggs, wheat, salt, paper and cardboard.
On September 20 the trade agreement will be signed in Panama City after it has been ratified by the respective legislatures.
"We have everything finalized for the signing of the treaty with Colombia on Friday September 20," said Ricardo Quijano, Panama's Minister of Commerce and Industry.
He added that Panama has negotiated a good FTA, which will increase its presence in the South American country "with Panamanian products and even with products that will go from the Colon Free Zone, which bear some elaboration and yes they will carry a Panamanian certificate of origin".
Honduras' customs system has not been updated with the new tariffs for European products, in force since 1 August.
A week ago the Agreement entered into force and Honduran importers have not yet received the corresponding tariff benefits.
"The Automated System for Customs Revenue (known as SARA by its initials in Spanish) is the system where people get information on the taxes that have to be paid based on the treaty and immediately after it enters into force it has to be ready, but the Revenue Office has not yet managed to input, so to speak, all the tax breaks included in this agreement," said Eduardo Ramos, advisor to the Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Cortes.
Central American industrialists are requesting that the tariff on imports of the product be 0%, while a local company has requested that the fee be raised to 15%.
This happened in a meeting held by the Honduran Council of Private Enterprise (Cohep), which brought together about 22 representatives from companies engaged in the production, import and distribution of sheet metal.