Between 2007 and 2014 Guatemalan exports to Chile grew by 15%, led by sales of sugar, equivalent to 70% of the total, followed by natural rubber, paints, varnishes and prepared foods.
In total exports from Guatemala to Chile increased from $43.4 million in 2007 to $112.7 million in 2014. Sugar reported an annual growth rate of 13%, reaching $79 million in exports in 2014.
Both governments announced that they have signed an agreement to unify customs in order to expedite the transport of vehicles and people, with effect from 1 June.
With this agreement, it is expected that the border between the two nations will be fully liberated for both freight and passengers in December. Immigration procedures will be carried out online or in an office to be located near the border area.
Negotiations have finished for the trade agreement between Guatemala and the bloc made up of Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland.
From a statement issued by the Government of Guatemala:
In Geneva, Switzerland, the closing ceremony has been held and the presentation of the official protocol for the negotiations incorporating Guatemala into the FTA between EFTA member states and members of Central America (Costa Rica and Panama).
Since the beggining of the FTA Guatemalan exports to Colombia have increased by 4.6% annually, while Colombian goods going to Guatemala have risen by 23.9% annually.
From a statement issued by the Government of Guatemala:
It has now been five years since the entry into force of the Free Trade Agreement-FTA- between the Republics of Guatemala and Colombia which has fostered the expansion and diversification of trade in goods and services between the two countries by removing trade barriers.
The government plans to resume talks with Canada, which had been suspended because of differences over issues related to textiles and agriculture.
It is expected that the Ministry of Economy will meet with Canadian authorities to find out their position and interest in restarting negotiations which have been on hold for four years, with the aim of advancing the signing of a free trade agreement.
Negotiations for the FTA have been concluded with the bloc made up of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, leaving only the respective approvals from governments pending.
During the negotiation issues were discussed related to services and investment, cooperation, sustainable development, intellectual property, sanitary measures, competition policy and government procurement, among others.
Regional agreements establish reciprocal and non-discriminatory treatment for international land freight transport services between Central American countries.
An article in Elperiodico.com.gt reports that "...The deputy ministers of Foreign Trade of Central America agreed yesterday that Guatemala would send a complete analysis, which demonstrates that the charge of $18 being made in El Salvador for carrying out non intrusive revisions contravenes trade regulations and affects the region. "
An agreement has been made to expand the list of traded products and other conditions of the Partial Agreement which has been in force since 2010.
Guatemala and Belize agreed to extend the benefits of the Partial Agreement which came into effect four years ago. The aim, according to the Ministry of Economy (Mineco), is to strengthen trade relations.
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.
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.
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 Council of the European Union has approved Guatemala's application to the trade pillar of the Association Agreement with Central America.
From a press release by the Government of Panama:
The Council of the European Union met today at its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, and confirmed the implementation of the Trade pillar of the Association Agreement between this institution and Guatemala starting December 1st.
The country has fulfilled the last requirement which was pending, the registration of geographical indications, meaning that the Association Agreement could come into force in November.
The Ministry of Economy will notify on September 30 that it has complied with the ratification of the Association Agreement with the European Union and with the 60-day period required for amendments to the Law on Industrial Property related to geographical indications.
Nicaragua and Honduras are allowed to sell 65,000 more metric tons duty-free to the European Union.
The country has given approval for both Nicaragua and Honduras to receive this benefit temporarily, until the trade agreement becomes effective for Guatemala. "The Council of Ministers of Economy and Trade for Central America (Comieco) gave authorization this weekend for each country in the region to be able to make available its quotas at will" reported Nicaraguahoy.info.
The current $550 million from the annual sales of Guatemalan products and services to Mexico could double with the entry into operation of the unified FTA between that country and the Central Americans.
Guatemalans are hoping that exports to the Aztec nation will double with the entry into force of the agreement which unifies the Mexican FTA's that were held separately with Costa Rica, Nicaragua and the CA-3.
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