Due to the tropical storms Eta and Iota, severe damage has been reported to the road network in Central American countries, and some border posts in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador have been suspended.
Since November 17, operations were suspended at the El Corinto, El Florido and Aguas Calientes border posts. These areas, shared by Guatemala and Honduras, are not operational, according to the Guatemalan Superintendence of Tax Administration (SAT).
After the contract was signed for the designs of the Penas Blancas and Tablillas border control posts, it is expected that in July 2021 the international bidding process for the construction of these enclosures can be initiated.
The Ministry of Foreign Trade (Comex) informed that on October 28, Duayner Salas, head of the institution, signed with the Consorcio Norte Sur Arquitectos, of Costa Rica, and the company C y C Asesorias Profesionales Limitada, of Santiago de Chile the contract for the design of the border control posts, whose works, as a whole, imply an intervention of an area of approximately 700,000 square meters.
As of October 1st, Guatemala and Honduras will begin operating three Peripheral Customs Offices, areas that will simplify procedures and allow free community mobility between both countries.
Guatemalan and Honduran taxpayers who make definitive imports to each State Party will be the ones to benefit from the implementation of this type of customs, since the goods imported under this modality will enjoy free mobility.
In Guatemala, the Superintendence of Tax Administration authorized Corporación Disatel S.A. to provide the service of electronic tags for the control of containers in the country.
Authorities from both countries are fine-tuning the final details to begin construction and habilitation of the Engineers Borderland Port in Quiche, Guatemala, which will connect with Nuevo Orizaba, Chiapas, in Mexico.
Guatemalan authorities reported that the process of the Foreign Affairs Ministries is to determine where the entry and exit points of the customs will be, since on the Mexican side modifications would have to be made to match the land.
As a result of the exponential growth of e-commerce at the global level, the region's customs authorities will face multiple challenges in the coming years in order to carry out their functions properly.
The current context, with consumers changing their preferences and increasingly valuing ease, convenience and time savings in their purchases, has forced companies to strengthen their online marketing channels, which in turn makes it necessary for Customs to optimize their processes.
Since January 1, 2020, Nicaraguan authorities have been charging $25 for the electronic processing of the Single Central American Transit Declaration, a cost that exceeds by 233% what was paid until the end of 2019.
Until December 31 last year, the General Directorate of Customs Services (DGA) charged $7.5 for the Single Central American Declaration in Transit (DUCA), but with the new provision of the authorities, the cost increased by $17.5 for 2020.
The Mocalempa customs and immigration control post in the Honduran province of Lempira began operating.
In order to make it easier for customs users to pay taxes and combat smuggling, the Government of the Republic, through the Presidential Commission for Comprehensive Reform of the Customs System and Trade Operators (Coprisao), today opened Customs Mocalempa, in the Mancomunidad Mapulaca, south of the department of Lempira, border between El Salvador and Honduras, informed the Presidency of Honduras.
Feasibility studies for the application of a Public-Private Partnership in the construction and maintenance works of the border crossings of La Hachadura and El Poy, and in the intermediate enclosures of Metalío and Tejutla began to be elaborated.
FOMILENIO II and the consortium Unión de Personas Pasos Fronterizos (UDP Pasos Fronterizos) signed a contract this day to carry out a technical study to determine the feasibility of a possible Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project at border crossings and intermediate precincts, according to an official statement.
Costa Rica recurred to the Central American Trade Dispute Resolution mechanism, for the collection of $50 by Nicaraguan customs authorities to Costa Rican cargo carriers entering the country.
The disagreement began after the Nicaraguan authorities on March 15 of this year began to collect a customs tax on the cargo transport in transit or with final destination in the country, which consists of the payment of $50 for each transport unit of goods that passes through land customs.
Because the implementation of the Central American Single Declaration continues to generate problems in customs in the region, the contingency plan for DUCA F and DUCA was extended until June 27.
"If you use the Contingency Plan, we suggest that you make sure you arrive at the destination country with the DUCA F and DUCA T duly processed and the supporting documents," reported the Guatemalan Association of Exporters.
Since there are still difficulties arising from the implementation of the Single Central American Declaration, the Contingency Plan for DUCA F and DUCA T was extended until 17 June.
Central American customs authorities agree to maintain in force the Contingency Plan for DUCA F and DUCA T, until June 17, 2019, at 23:59 hours.
Delays are reported in Salvadoran customs in San Cristóbal and La Hachadura, and difficulties in the port of Santo Tomás de Castilla, in Guatemala, because of the implementation of DUCA.
The Inter-American Commission for Trade Facilitation (CIFACIL) of El Salvador asked the Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT) of Guatemala, to work to solve the problems that Salvadoran companies are facing in the port of Santo Tomás de Castilla, Guatemalan maritime terminal in the Atlantic, arising from the implementation of the Single Central American Declaration (DUCA).
In the next five years, the Guatemalan government plans to invest in the renovation of existing buildings and the construction of new customs infrastructure.
The investments, which will be in charge of the Superintendence of Tax Administration (SAT) and which correspond to the Program of Integral Customs Modernization (MIAD) 2019-2023, contemplate two major components, which are infrastructure and technology.
Since the new computer system was implemented in El Salvador, it is estimated that waiting times for imported goods moving in the Port of Acajutla have been reduced by up to 60%.
The General Directorate of Customs (DGA) reported that since November 15 last year is in operation the computer system "Sidunea World", which aims to reduce the steps in the process of importing goods.
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