The blockade to the entrance of products of animal origin coming from Costa Rica to the Panamanian market, has derived in a commercial conflict in which both countries have their share of responsibility, since the authorities of both nations advocate for protectionist measures.
On July 10, 2020, Panama informed the National Animal Health Service (SENASA), an agency of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Costa Rica (MAG), about the decision not to extend the authorization for export to a list of Costa Rican establishments previously authorized and that have been commercializing in the Panamanian market for many years.
After the Panamanian government agreed to ban the entry of animal products from Costa Rica, Panamanian businessmen supported the measure and asked to discuss the export and import requirements, since they claim that their agricultural products are prevented from accessing the Costa Rican market.
The trade dispute began when on July 10 Panama informed the National Animal Health Service (SENASA) of the Costa Rican Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) of the decision not to extend export authorization to a list of previously authorized Costa Rican establishments that have been exporting to Panama for many years.
In Costa Rica, the General Directorate of Customs announced that companies that have tax or employers debts will not be able to complete the procedures and formalities needed to export or import goods or services.
Resolution DGA-030-2019 of the Directorate General of Customs (DGA), issued on October 22 of this year, states that "... it is communicated that the Information Technology Information System for Customs Control will verify compliance with these requirements and if there are outstanding debts will prevent continuing with the import or export procedure requested by electronic transmission."
Authorities from both countries met to review pending procedures related to the export and import of products such as tomatoes, beef, chicken, fish and sausages.
The bilateral agenda also addressed the issues of international cargo transport, smuggling at border crossings, streamlining procedures and efficiency in processes, as well as the provision of facilities and measures restricting the international transport of land cargo, reported the government of Panama.
The business associations of both countries started working on a joint plan to solve a problem that has been causing them damage for the last six years.
Representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (Cciap) and members of the Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá, initiated talks to develop a joint plan to end the conflict that has affected them since 2012.
The Brazilian government claims that the 6,8% increase in the tax on sugar imports from the south american country is in violation of a WTO anti-dumping agreement.
The decision by the new Minister of Economy to raise the tariff on sugar imports from Brazil by 6.82%, ignoring the technical criteria that indicated an absence of dumping, is already having consequences.See: "Sugar War in Costa Rica Restarts".
Raising taxes exclusively on Colombian products is one of the measures that Panama could take until Colombia starts to comply with the WTO ruling.
The Panamanian government has asked the World Trade Organization (WTO) for authorization to use trade measures against Colombia, worth $210 million, equivalent to the effects that the imposition of Colombian tariffs had on the Colon Free Zone.
This is good news for Central American textile manufacturers. We will have to wait and see what other protectionist measures will be implemented by President Trump.
The possibility that the United States buys textiles from Vietnam at lower prices than those paid by textile manufacturers in Central America seems to have now disappeared, however, in order to measure the true impact of the Trump protectionist policy on trade between US business and the region we will have to wait to see what other decisions on international trade deals are take by the new administration.
Operations in Santo Tomas de Castilla are back to normal, after truck drivers and customs agents agreed with the Government to improve conditions at the terminal.
Employers indicate that taking the dispute to an arbitration panel will cost many millions of dollars and will result in indemnization payments, as it is clear that trade agreements and phytosanitary standards were breached.
The announcement by the Mexican authorities to take Costa Rica to a World Trade Organization (WTO) arbitration panel because of the dispute over avocados, has caused concern among employers who are members of the Chamber of Exporters and Importers of Perishable Goods (Ceipp).
The coffee union has stated that the advance payment of withholding tax reduces the trade margin of exporters by up to 40%.
The obligation to pay an advance withholding tax (IR) to the DGI is threatening the competitiveness of coffee growers, especially companies whose profit is on commission on sales that are placed on the international market. The complaint was made by Michael Healy, president of the Union of Agricultural Producers of Nicaragua to Trincheraonline.com.
Free Zone users require another type of measures on top of the proposals the government has discussed in the Assembly, such as reducing the charges for renting.
The bill that was discussed in Congress and which seeks to increase the competitiveness of the Colon Free Zone (CFZ), (already approved in the first debate) is not enough for entrepreneurs. Marco Tellez, president of the Association of Users (AU), told Prensa.com that "...
They argue that joining the bloc offers growth potential for commercial partners who to date represent only 4% of total exports.
Enrique Egloff, president of the Chamber of Industries of Costa Rica provided support for this with figures which show that in 2015 Costa Rica's exports to the countries in the Pacific Alliance totaled $377 million and imports $1.786 billion.
The irreconcilable positions of both countries over phytosanitary measures for the Mexican product form the backdrop to a possible arbitration panel with the world trade body.
Since Costa Rica stopped issuing permits for the entry of Hass avocados from Mexico, for phytosanitary protectionism reasons, (the country argues they are protecting themselves from the disease known as sunspot), neither country has managed to convince the other through technical and political methods to reopen the market.
Businessmen have complained to the Executive office about the slowness and inefficiency of customs inspections of the country, where containers are retained for up to 15 days.
The truckers blockade which paralyzed customs offices in Jutiapa for a week, has made entrepreneurs question the efficiency of border posts in the country because of the time invested in land transport.
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