In Costa Rica, the Chamber of Commerce opposes the agreement signed between the rice sector and the government, which maintains the fixing of the price and the 35% tariff on grain imports.
The decision was made on August 23rd in the framework of the meeting in which the National Production Council (CNP), the National Rice Corporation (CONARROZ) and the Ministries of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC) and Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) participated.
Following an appeal filed by the importing company La Maquila Lama with the Costa Rican authorities, the government decided to reduce the additional tax on sugar purchased abroad from 34.27% to 27.68%.
With the reduction decreed by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC), a decision that was published on August 18 in The Gazette, the total tax applied to imported sugar will be 72.68% (45% original plus 27.68% of the safeguard), which is slightly less than the 79.27% (45% original plus 34.27%), which was in force until before the enacted amendment.
Arguing that the unusual growth in sugar imports is harming local production, the Alvarado administration decided to raise the tariff on products entering Costa Rica from 45% to 73% for a three-year period.
The Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC) concluded the investigation requested by the Agricultural Industrial League of Sugar Cane (LAICA) and 4 mills, on the safeguard measure against imports of solid state, granulated sugar, known as white sugar, used for domestic and industrial consumption, justifying a deterioration in the main economic indicators of the National Production Branch (RPN), details an official statement dated June 15.
In Costa Rica, sugar producers are asking the government to raise tariffs or entry taxes on imports, and importers are opposing, as this would raise the final price to the consumer.
In July 2019, the Sugar Cane Industrial Agricultural League (LAICA) asked the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC) to launch an investigation with the aim of imposing additional tariffs on imported sugar, arguing that purchases from abroad would damage local production.
In Panama, the agribusiness sector and the government agreed to review all legal details to assess an increase from 15% to 30% in the import tariff for mozzarella cheeses.
This week, the country's dairy agribusiness sector met with President Juan Carlos Varela and representatives of the Ministries of Agricultural Development and Trade and Industries.
The new excise tariff that will apply from January 1st, 2018 contemplates a reduction of import tariffs on fruits such as plums, oranges and peaches from Chile.
The new import tariffs published by the Ministry of Economy will be effective as of January 1, 2018.
Elperiodico.com.gt reports that "...Agricultural products saw a reduction of 1.5% in their tax (they went from 3% to 1.5%). "
Central American coffee will incur 0% tariff in 10 years, while bananas, vegetables and baby vegetables will be shielded from the entry into force of the agreement.
In the fifth round of negotiations which will be held in Seoul from August 8 to 12 it is expected that progress will be made on the definitions for the treatment of 9% of the universe of products that have not yet been analyzed.
From 2016 grain importers will go from paying the current 40% import tariff to 36% in 2016 and it will continue to decline until it reaches 0% in 2023.
The rice producing sector in El Salvador is trying to prepare for the start of the process of tariff elimination on imports of the grain, which already next year will be reduced by 4% from the current rate.
While the government makes further assessments over joining the bloc, the agribusiness sectors is emphasizing the negative consequences of any renegotiation over tariffs.
Representatives from the agricultural sector argue that the country's entry into the Pacific Alliance will mean "... losing some of the conditions achieved in existing free trade agreements." Currently "...
Within the Economic Council of Government Luis Guillermo Solís' ministers are divided with some favoring openness to international trade, and others wanting to protect vulnerable sectors.
The Ministry of Foreign Trade, which is in favor of accession, argues that there are free trade agreements with member countries of the Alliance, meaning that they would only be strengthening commercial ties.
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 quotas for duty free export of beef, rice and tuna negotiated in the Agreement with the European Union are not being exploited to the fullest extent by local producers.
Lack of certification by the meat processing plants for export, the crisis in the agricultural sector and the absence of incentives to produce exportable foods are some of the factors which, in the opinion of producers, are preventing the country from taking advantage of the tariff benefits granted to country under the Economic Association Agreement (AA).
After the withdrawal of the reservation lodged by El Salvador against China with the World Trade Organization, China has lowered tariffs and opened an import quota for sugar from the Central American country.
China currently consumes about 12 million tons of sugar, representing 15% of total sugar that moves around the world. With the reduction in tariffs, the Salvadoran sugar industry will be able to direct its gaze to this market.
With the modifications negotiated for Partial Scope Agreement Panama will obtain new preferences for 73 tariff lines and improvements in 31 lines, related to agricultural and industrial products.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Panama (ICIM):
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Meliton Arrocha, expressed his satisfaction at the completion of negotiations of the First Protocol Amending the Partial Scope Agreement with the Republic of Cuba, at the formal signing ceremony to be held in Havana, Cuba, November 7.
With opposition from agro-industry, the government has initiated the processes required to join the trade bloc, including a consultation period, which runs until the end of the year.
Entry into the block requires a greater commercial opening than that established in free trade treaties negotiated between Costa Rica and member countries, Mexico, Colombia, Peru and Chile, which is why productive sectors such as agriculture and industry oppose it.