In order to streamline the processes of import and export of agricultural, livestock and hydrobiological inputs and products, the virtual platform VISAR online was enabled in Guatemala.
This tool is aimed at the productive sectors, importers of products of animal and vegetable origin, agricultural inputs and exporters of agricultural, livestock and hydrobiological products, which will now reduce time in their efforts with the use of cutting-edge technology, typical of the digital era, informed the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA).
The costs incurred by businessmen in Nicaragua, because of excessive procedures and low efficiency of foreign trade systems is 25% additional to the value of the goods, while in El Salvador and Costa Rica, amounts to 18% and 16%, respectively.
A study by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) specifies that the costs paid by businessmen in Nicaragua, because of excessive procedures and low efficiency of foreign trade systems is 25.3% additional to the value of the goods, followed by El Salvador with 18.3%, Costa Rica with 16.3%, Honduras with 15.8%, Guatemala with 14% and Panama with 9%.
In Guatemala, since the beginning of September a new version of the Electronic System for Export Authorization has been available which includes changes that make it easier to process requests.
The Guatemalan Association of Exporters (Agexport) reported that as of Monday, September 3, the newly designed and reengineered Electronic System for Export Authorization (SEADEX) has been available to exporters, a platform of the Single Window for Exports (VUPE) ) that is more intuitive and easier to use when filling in and sending documents and complying with non-tax export requirements.
The tax authority has launched a new electronic platform, which lets exporters to register in only 24 hours.
With this new method available through the Virtual Agency, wait times have been considerably reduced, since the inscription in the categories of habitual exporter, optional and special regime for the refund of tax credits had until now been carried out face-to-face and as a whole they took on average 67 days.
The use of the Central American single invoice and declaration form will be mandatory from March 1, 2018 and not from January 1, as originally planned.
Authorities in Guatemala and Honduras have decided to postpone the mandatory use of the Central American single invoice and declaration (Fyduca) form, due to, among other things, ignorance about the use of the system on the part of some companies.
Salvadoran industrialists claim that with the presidential veto of the administrative simplification law, the country has lost a valuable opportunity to improve the already deteriorated business climate.
EDITORIAL
With the veto of the Administrative Simplification Act, the Salvadoran government is sending a clear message to the business community and to society in general: There is no interest in paving the way for the private sector to generate more jobs and, consequently, more wealth and socioeconomic development.
Trade in goods in the region is showing signs of recovery with an increase in exports to third-party trading partners and an increase in intraregional imports.
From the Trade Monitor report by the Economic Secretariat for Central American Integration (SIECA):
Central America, July 10, 2017.Trade in goods in Central America shows signs of recovery with an increase in exports to third-party trading partners and an increase in intraregional imports, according to figures from the most recent Central American Trade Monitor for the first quarter of 2017.The main results derived from the Monitor are as follows:
Which goods can circulate freely and through which border posts, what procedures need to be done and other details about how the customs union functions.
From a report by Agexport:
1. From now on exports to Honduras will technically be treated as transfers and imports as acquisitions.
A pilot plan is being prepared for the exchange of information on sanitary and phytosanitary permits through the PSCs for exports from both countries.
Elperiodico.com.gt explains that"...The procedure, which would not generate any additional cost,will allow paperwork done by a Guatemalan exporter to be transmitted electronically, sending a notification to Mexico, so that the authorities can be satisfied of the origin and compliance with the required permits for entry of merchandise."
Starting from March 10 a mechanism will be in effect that will allow importers and exporters to make corrections to certificates of origin under the trade agreement with Mexico.
From a statement issued by the Chamber of Industry in Guatemala:
We wish to publicise that the mechanism adopted within the framework of the meeting of the Administrative Commission of the Free Trade Agreement -FTA- between Guatemala and Mexico, which took place in January, approval was givenfor importers and exporters to make corrections to their certificates of origin, for which there will be 15 days in each case.
Exporters are demanding simplified procedures and improvements to port and customs infrastructure in order to achieve better results in foreign trade this year.
From a statement issued by Agexport:
The continuity of production companies is at its limit, believe exporters at AGEXPORT, in light of news that the total amount of exports for 2016 stood at US $10,465.3 million, registering 2.0% less in currencies compared to 2015, i.e., an income of US $209.50 million less than this year.
All the necessary information carriers, importers or exporters, need to know about the procedures at each customs office, from Guatemala to Panama.
From a statement issued by Agexport:
The intention is to reduce the time lost and inconvenience caused at each border point due to lack of preparation of documents or lack of knowledge of the electronic tools that exist.Expanding knowledge of those tools available to carry out the procedures required under the regime, is the aim of the contents of the Guide.
Simplifying the process of returning tax credits is one of the proposals that the export union has raised with the government in order to expedite export processes.
From a statement issued by Agexport:
The Presidential Commissioner for Competitiveness and Investment, Acisclo Valladares; President of AGEXPORT, Rolando Paiz and the Executive Director of PRONACOM, Fernando Suriano; today delivered ten proposals to simplify issues related to export activities so that the authorities responsible for each topic can discuss them their technical team to implement and improve the competitiveness of these markets processes.
In order to accelerate the sales process, companies in the the forestry sector will be able to carry out the processes for obtaining an export license online.
From a statement issued by Agexport:
October 18.In order to expedite and facilitate the process of exporting of forest products, today we present the 100% electronic export license for marketing wood, which guarantees that the documents submitted for export processing guarantee the lawful origin of the product to be exported.
The Superintendence of Competition has authorized the Honduran company Imperia Imperia Intercontinental and Inversiones El Salvador to buy from Banco Citibank, five of its subsidiaries, Seguros e Inversiones, and Cititarjetas.
From a statement issued by the Superintendency of Competition in El Salvador:
The Board of Directors of the Superintendency of Competition has approved this day, an authorization request for a merger consisting of the purchase of Banco Citibank de El Salvador, S.A. and five of its subsidiaries, Seguros e Inversiones S.A. (SISA) and its subsidiary and Cititarjetas, by Imperia Imperia Intercontinental Inc. and Inversiones El Salvador S.A. de C.V. The deal involves a non-horizontal economic concentration of a conglomerate for most of its operations and a vertical relationship for the provision of financial services through ATMs at gas stations.
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