Due to the possible change in the regulations established by the European Union on the use of agrochemicals in the production of the fruit that enters their territory, exporters in the region are on the alert for the possible complications that this would generate in the commercialization.
In order to protect the health of consumers, European authorities could vary the maximum residue limits (MRL's) that food entering the region may contain.
Tires, ceramics, auto parts and raw materials are part of the list of 2,800 products which will incur higher fees in order to enter the Ecuadorian market from March 11.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Trade in Ecuador:
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.
Central American countries need to implement a series of improvements in customs procedures in order to meet the requirements of the agreement for the facilitation of international trade.
Within two years, as part of the commitments made in the 2001 Doha Round of the Bali Agreement, signed in 2013 by 160 nations belonging to the World Trade Organization (WTO), including Central America, governments will have to harmonize their customs systems ensuring trade facilitation. However, to date institutional progress on issues established by the Agreement such as simplification, harmonization and automation of procedures for international trade have not happened, particularly in relation to the requirements and formalities for import, export and transit of border freight.
The World Trade Organization aims to reduce by half the costs added to products as they pass through customs offices.
An article in Elfinancierocr.com reports that "... all WTO members recognize that progress can be made in cutting costs associated with inefficiencies in order to make trade more efficient."
The Russian trend of moving towards a healthier life style has positively influenced the consumption of canned vegetables, juices and nectars.
From an article by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
According to a study conducted by the firm Intesco Research Group in Russia, production of canned vegetables will increase with the population growth in large cities. The study entitled, "The market for canned vegetables: projections for 2013-2016" notes that the use of these goods in Russia exceeds 8 kilos per capita.
The Costa Rican government has informed the WTO that from March next year it will cease the pricing system by which domestic rice producers are subsidized.
From 1st March 2014 rice subsidies will be removed, which could end the dispute with the U.S. and other WTO members on account of aid given to rice farmers.
Industrialists are urging early approval in order to eliminate investor uncertainty about the new regime that will prevail in the country.
The reform of the law on free zones in El Salvador must be current in 2016, as the World Trade Organization (WTO) has set a deadline for the country of December 31, 2015 to change its regime internationally eliminating incentives which are considered unfair competition.
The Hong Kong government has issued its first regulation on pesticide residues in food, which will be effective from August 1, 2014.
A statement from the Costa Rican Trade Office reads:
Hong Kong enacts its first regulation on pesticide residues in food
The Hong Kong government has notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of the issuance of its first regulation on pesticide residues in food which will come into effect from August 1, 2014. This regulation will have a two year grace period in which the producers are looking to familiarize themselves with these new regulations.
Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay will apply the maximum tariffs on imports from outside Mercosur due to the crisis.
A statement from PROCOMER reads: Brazil will apply the maximum fee allowed by the World Trade Organization (WTO) to a list of one hundred products imported from outside MERCOSUR, this is measure is being implemented in order to protect their industry from the international crisis according to a decree issued on May 28 and, based on a MERCOSUR resolution of December 2011 which allows four members (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) to raise common external tariff for 24 months, the decision has been adopted as a way to mitigate trade imbalances resulting from international economics, leaving each country to decide to create their own list of tariffs to be increased.
Five regulations signed by the COMIECO will facilitate trade within the region and minimize the cost of economic exchange.
The Council of Ministers of Economy (Comieco) agreed to sign 5 regulations to standardize the use of packaging and labels at the regional level, in order to facilitate trade and minimize costs of economic exchange in the isthmus, reported Agencia Guatemalteca de Noticias.
The formalization of the industry and the harmonization of the rules governing the livestock sector is the basis with which the business challenge presented by Asociation Agreement Central America-European Union will be faced.
Central America has already taken steps in harmonizing standards for the dairy industry, said Francisco Arias, an expert on integration from the Central American Dairy Farmers Federation (FECALAC).
Although a WTO ruling said that the taxes and polypropylene bags and tubular fabric from Central America violate their rules, they will not be removed until April 2012.
The Dominican Republic has announced that it will keep the tariffs on tubular fabric and polypropylene products from Central America in place until April, even though the World Trade Organization (WTO) considers that they have violated international trade rules, according to the AP as reported by the online edition La Prensa Grafica.
Operating Company dedicated to the manufacture of gluten-free and sugar-free products, OHNE brand. The OHNE brand has 8 product lines: square bread, sweet...