The possibility that the United States will not renew tariff preferences for Nicaraguan textiles at the end of the year is forcing the industry to prepare changes to their production schedule.
Although there is a possibility that the United States will grant an extension of the benefits of the Tariff Preference Level (TPL), if they are not renewed, starting January 1st, 2015 the Nicaraguan textile sector may no longer sell to United States products made from raw materials from countries that are not part of DR-CAFTA.
The meeting of the Presidents Santos and Varela made it clear that there will be no immediate solution to the problem of the tariffs Colombia is imposing on imports of footwear and textiles from the Colon Free Zone.
Companies operating in the Free Zone of Colon have seen their sales to Colombia decrease dramatically since the government of that country imposed a protective tariff on all imports of footwear and textiles from countries with which the country does not have a free trade agreement in place. The measure already has been implemented now for nearly two years, removing competitiveness of exports by traders from the CFZ.
The government has authorized the purchase of 9000 tons of red beans without tariffs until 31 October.
The permission granted by the Council of Ministers for Economic Integration (COMIECO) to the government of El Salvador will be valid until 31 October for the acquisition of up to 9000 tons of red beans from countries such as Colombia and Mexico.
The partial agreement signed in 1986 will be renegotiated in order to increase the number of goods exchanged under the terms of the treaty.
The governments of El Salvador and Venezuela reported that the purpose of the review is to increase commercial relations between the two countries by improving the conditions of the partial agreement.
The Honduran government has reported that the agreement will take effect on October 1, and that it will be coordinating a visit by a group of Canadian companies in the country in the coming previous.
The Department of Economic Development told Eleconomista.net that "...The entry into force of the FTA between Honduras and Canada "has been set for October 1" after the two countries have "adopted the administrative regulations necessary at the level of customs and the formalities prescribed in the Treaty have been exhausted.' "
A statutory amendment will allow Brazil to use a World Trade Organization quota to export beef to the United States.
Nicaraguan producers and exporters have raised concerns about the possible impact of changes in trade policies which are being discussed by the U.S. Congress, which directly affect the export of peanuts, tobacco and meat, the latter product due to possible entry of beef from Brazil.
Making it clear that their international trade policies will be more protectionist than those of previous governments, the Solis administration has poured cold water on the accession to the group formed by Mexico, Colombia, Peru and Chile.
Editorial
This theme marks the differences within the government of President Luis Guillermo Solis. While the Minister of Foreign Trade (COMEX) Alexander Mora would be inclined to maintain the openness to the world that has characterized Costa Rica in recent years, Luis Felipe Arauz, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), publicly expressed opposition to entering the block of nations under the current conditions.
A bill that is being analyzed by the U.S. Congress aims to reduce the level of tariff preference to only 6% of imports from Nicaraguan textile factories.
Although the possibility exists of an extension of the current Tariff Preference Level (TPL) until 2015, American congressmen have proposed that the benefit be granted only on cotton pants, which represent the lowest proportion of Nicaraguan textileexports to the United States.
The Association of European Banana Producers has proposed extending the community production model until 2020 in order to face competition from Central America.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office:
European banana producers seek to strengthen position in light of Latin American exports
The trade agreement excludes oil, some dairy and meat products, waffles, beer, gum, certain plastics, paper, cardboard and the metalworking sectors.
The agreement, which will come into effect when it gains legislative approval in Colombia, provides free instant access to Costa Rica for cocoa beans, refined salt, medicines, raw materials for the plastics industry, paper and textiles and plywood doors.
The improved tariff conditions that will come with the entry into force of the trade deal with Canada will facilitate entry into a country which imports 30% of the food it consumes.
From a press release issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office:
Honduran fruits and vegetables will be among the products most exported into Canada once the free trade agreement between the two countries enters into force, experts say.
The agreement approved by the National Assembly of Nicaragua allows entry into the Cuban market of products such as meat, milk, honey and black beans.
The agreement, which aims to extend preferential entry of goods into Cuba, includes tax treatments and sanitary and phytosanitary measures to be observed in the exchange of products.
The signing of a free trade agreement with Mexico puts Panama one step closer to the commercial bloc.
After the signing of the free trade agreement between the two countries, Panama could be the next country along with Costa Rica, to join the Pacific Alliance trade bloc.
The retail sector is looking favorably on accession to the bloc, but the agricultural and food industries are opposed to it.
The lack of information about how membership has been negotiated and sensitivities presented by some sectors and products in comparison to their peers in the Pacific Alliance are part of the arguments used by agriculture and industry to oppose, at least under the current conditions, the incorporation of Costa Rica into the Alliance.
Entrepreneurs in both sectors celebrated the exclusion of these products from the Free Trade Agreement between Panama and Mexico.
Entrepreneurs in the National Cattlemen's Association (Anagan) and the Pig Breeders Association of Panama (Anapor) welcomed the decision in the FTA negotiations that took into account the request to withdraw these products from the Treaty.
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