In Panama, the Cortizo administration has announced that it does not plan to sign new trade agreements, as what the country currently needs is to "strengthen its exporters.”
Representatives of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries informed that until the exportable offer of Panama is strengthened, they will begin to advance in the negotiation of commercial treaties with other countries.
Guatemalan authorities announced that in the first week of October they will travel to South Korea, with the aim of restarting negotiations of the Free Trade Agreement between the two economies.
Guatemala is the only Central American country still negotiating the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with South Korea, since El Salvador, Panama, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica signed it in February 2018.
Although there have already been five rounds of negotiations to sign a free trade agreement, the Cortizo administration announced that they decided to restrict themselves to signing a partial-scope agreement.
Representatives of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (Mici) explained that they want the scope of the trade agreement with the Asian giant to be limited to the exchange of agricultural and industrial goods, which is known as a partial scope Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
The first round of negotiations will take place in Guatemala from August 26 to 28, during which the lists of products of interest to both nations will be exchanged.
Authorities from the Guatemalan Ministry of Economy (Mineco) informed that the agreement they seek to sign will not be a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), nor a Partial Scope Agreement, but rather a hybrid agreement.
Since Cortizo took office, Panamanian exporters have been concerned about the negotiation of the agreement with China, as they believe the delays could affect the results achieved so far.
In the last week of September, the first round of negotiations for the deepening and extension of the Partial Scope Agreement between the two countries is scheduled to take place in Havana.
The second round of negotiations will take place in Guatemala City during the week of October 7-11 this year, and will analyze in depth access to markets and rules of origin, in order to advance in the exchange of negotiating positions, informed the Ministry of Economy of Guatemala (Mineco).
The fifth round of negotiations, to be held from April 24 to 26 in Beijing, is expected to make further progress on issues related to market access and attracting investment, among others.
From the statement of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries of Panama:
Panama City, April 23, 2019. The teams from the Republic of Panama and the People's Republic of China begin tomorrow Wednesday the fifth round of negotiations for the Trade Agreement between the two countries.
The first round of negotiations began in the South American country to expand the list of products already traded in the framework of the agreement that has been in force since 2013.
The agreement that entered into force on February 19, 2013, has allowed immediate access to 593 products with 100% tax relief. In addition, it reduces tariffs on 84 products between 20% and 100% over 3 and 7 years, informed the Guatemalan government.
It is announced that technical groups from the governments of El Salvador and Guatemala began negotiations in London to conclude a new trade agreement.
Now, there is a possibility that the agreement the region seeks to sign with the European country will not be consolidated, since it is not yet clear how the process of Britain's exit from the European Union will be carried out, an issue that is generating great tension between the British Parliament and Prime Minister, Theresa May, at this very moment.
During the fourth round of negotiations between the two countries, rules of origin, customs procedures, market access, trade in services and others were addressed.
From the statement of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries:
The negotiating teams from Panama and the Popular Republic of China concluded today in the Panamanian capital the Fourth Round of Negotiations for a Trade Agreement with approaches in the chapters of Rules of Origin, Customs Procedures, Market Access, Trade in Services and others.
From November 19th to 23rd, the fourth round of negotiations will take place in Panama City, where issues related to the protection of sensitive products of the Central American country will be addressed.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry reported that in the previous three rounds of negotiations, progress has been made on intellectual property, sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
On November 12th, the VII Round of Negotiations for the inclusion of El Salvador in the integration process towards the free transit of individuals and goods between Guatemala and Honduras began in San Salvador.
The negotiations between the three countries will last the entire week and it is expected that this round of dialogues will address issues related to the customs, migration, sanitary and phytosanitary challenges facing El Salvador.
The third round of negotiations between the two delegations concluded on October 13th, in which subjects such as Intellectual Property, Cooperation and Rules of Origin were discussed.
From the press release of the Ministry of Trade and Industries:
Panama City, October 13th, 2018. The negotiating teams from Panama and the People' s Republic of China concluded today the Third Round of Negotiations for a Trade Agreement with advances in chapters such as Intellectual Property, Cooperation and Rules of Origin.
The FTA with Panama and the agreement with El Salvador, both in the negotiation stage, are part of the commercial opportunities that the Asian nation seeks to consolidate in the region in the short-term.
The third round of negotiations to conclude the trade agreement between the Central American country and the Asian nation began in Panama City. This session will deal with trade barriers, customs procedures and trade facilitation.
Authorities in the Asian country reported that their intention is to sign a free trade agreement with El Salvador, while the government of Sánchez Cerén intends to sign a partial scope agreement.
Authorities in the People's Republic of China reported that as announced several weeks ago, El Salvador and the Asian country had already held their first working session in which they began to define the trade and cooperation relationship between the two nations.
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