A delay in the delivery of health permits from the Ministry of Agriculture is preventing exporters of cheese from selling their product in El Salvador.
For more than ten days delivery of health guarantees to cheese exporters by the Nicaraguan Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Magfor ) has been paralyzed. The delay has meant that some 30 containers loaded with the product are about to spoil.
The participation of countries such as India and Turkey at the trade fair taking place from 26th to 29th of March reflects the interest in the region that exists globally.
Organizers of the Panamanian trade fair Expocomer explained to Mexican businessmen that the event is becoming increasingly global, confirming the interest in the region aroused from businesses around the globe.
The Pacific Alliance has become the largest market in Latin America and an attractive investment for companies in third party countries who want to use it.
"In 2012, the Gross Domestic Product of the Pacific Partnership (AP by its initials in Spanish) grew by 5%, two points higher than that recorded by the global economy. FDI remained at an acceptable rhythm, with $71.045 billion, of which over $30 billion was destined for Chile.
The Salvadoran President has asked the SIECA to intervene in a trade dispute with Costa Rica.
President Mauricio Funes, believes that a regional agency should resolve the trade dispute with Costa Rica, which has requested the creation of an international arbitration group. The problem, Funes said, should be resolved by the Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration (SIECA).
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.
At the end of 2013, the difference between exports and imports continued to rise reaching $5.281 billion.
Data from the Central Reserve Bank (BCR) reveals that in late 2013 the trade deficit amounted to $5.2809 billion, compared to the same period of 2012 when it was $4.919 billion, which represents an increase of 7.4%.
"... growth of the trade deficit is worrying, there is a higher output of currency from El Salvador than the amount coming in through exports," said economist Claudio Rosa.
The sale of synthetic fibers increased by 133% between November 2012 and March 2013.
Statsistics from the Central Reserve Bank (BCR) reveal that between November 2012 and March 2013, exports of synthetic fibers to Europe increased from $1.4 million to $3.4 million, which is 133%.
"In other categories, food products such as honey increased sales by 29.8%, going from $4.3 million to $5.6 million."
In the second round of negotiations an agreement was signed on tourism and advances made in relation to investment protection.
In the second round of negotiations for a Partial Agreement (PA) between El Salvador and Trinidad & Tobago, which was held in Puerto España, both delegations reached an agreement on tourism and advances were made in relation to investments.
The Guatemalan Exporters Association is preparing a trade mission for entrepreneurs on May 5th-9th 2014.
From a press release issued by the Guatemalan Association of Exporters:
In order to provide Guatemalan businessmen an appointment schedule with potential Central American buyers interested in their services / products aimed at facilitating the networking and expanding opportunities for direct business, the Department of Promotion and Trade Information at AGEXPORT, will be organising from 5 to 9 May 2014, a multisectoral trade mission to San Salvador, Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula.
Trade ministers from the region are promoting the regional recognition of sanitary permits by its digitization and online availability.
Trade ministers from the region analyzed uploading permissions to a web platform in order to expedite the process of trading regionally. The initiative would allow an exporter registered in Guatemala not to have to send physical documents to another Central American country in order to register.
Sugar, coffee, fishmeal, plastics and paper products are the best selling products to the Asian island.
According to the Taiwanese Embassy in El Salvador during the first 11 months of 2013, exports from the Central American nation to Asian countries grew by 576 %. Among the products that are exported to Taiwan are sugar, coffee, fish meal, paper, cardboard, plastics.
This week Authorities from both countries will begin a second round of negotiations for a partial scope trade agreement.
This week El Salvador and Trinidad & Tobago will hold a second round of negotiations for a Partial Scope Agreement. The main products exported by Salvadorans to this country are articles made of plastic, sugar, agricultural products, industrial products, clothing, iron, steel, plastic, paper and cardboard.
The competitiveness of the economies of the isthmus is being impaired by the inefficiency of the bureaucracy in the management of customs offices in the region.
The bureaucracy at customs offices has become a serious problem for the Central American region. Among other things it generates increases in the costs of exporting because of the procedures that must be paid for, loss of perishable goods and delays in production in processes that have to wait for raw materials.
A dispute over the failure to implement tariff benefits on the part of El Salvador on tires and juices exported by Costa Rica has not been resolved using other methods.
The Costa Rican Minister of Foreign Trade, Anabel Gonzalez confirmed that on January 20th El Salvador will be taken to court for not applying the tariff benefits negotiated in the FTA between the U.S., Central America and the Dominican Republic on tires and juices.
The FOB value of exports in the region between January and August 2013 totaled $20.426 million, 2.9% less than in the same period last year.
Bulletin on Central American Foreign Trade:
January to June 2013
The Secretariat of Central American Economic Integration (SIECA) through the Bureau of Statistics, Research and Policy, has presented the Central Foreign Trade Bulletin for the period of January to June this year.