Following what began as a blockade by Panama on the entry of animal products from Costa Rica, a formal proposal has been made to apply an import tariff to Costa Rican dairy products marketed in the Panamanian market.
In July of this year, Panama informed the National Animal Health Service (SENASA), an agency of the Costa Rican Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), of the decision not to extend the export authorization to a list of Costa Rican establishments previously authorized and that have been trading in the Panamanian market for many years.
Arguing that the unusual growth in sugar imports is harming local production, the Alvarado administration decided to raise the tariff on products entering Costa Rica from 45% to 73% for a three-year period.
The Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC) concluded the investigation requested by the Agricultural Industrial League of Sugar Cane (LAICA) and 4 mills, on the safeguard measure against imports of solid state, granulated sugar, known as white sugar, used for domestic and industrial consumption, justifying a deterioration in the main economic indicators of the National Production Branch (RPN), details an official statement dated June 15.
Arguing that local production must be protected, Costa Rican sugar manufacturers demand that, in addition to the 45% common levy already charged on imported sugar, an additional tariff must be imposed.
The request was made by Liga Agricola Industrial de la Caña de Azucar (Laica) to the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC), as businessmen claim that there is an exponential growth in sugar imports in recent years, which has put in check the Costa Rican sugar cane sector.
ArcelorMittal has requested the restoration of a 15% import duty on steel rods, arguing that "the vast majority of these imports enter the country without paying taxes, taking advantage of a legal loophole".
After thereaction from the construction sector,the steel rod manufacturer in Costa Rica, ArcelorMittal, justified its decision to request an investigation from the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC) to decide if it will impose a safeguard measure and impose a 15% tariff on imports of the product.
The Ministry of Economy in Costa Rica, has started an investigation to determine if there are elements that allow application of a safeguard on imports of cylindrical rods made of alloy and non-alloy steel.
The trade union of industrialists in the Dominican Republic warned of the start of the investigation that the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC) initiated at the request of Arcelor Mittal Costa Rica, as indicated in theresolutionpublished in the edition of March 19 in the official newspaper, La Gaceta.
Starting from April the South American country will start implementing a timetable for elimination of the safeguard for balance of payments, reducing the current tariff levels from 15% to 10% and from 35% to 23.3%.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Trade in Ecuador:
From April 2017 the schedule for dismantling of the safeguard measure will be implemented for balance of payments, reducing the current tariff levels from 15% to 10.0% and from 35% to 23.3%.In this regard, the reduction will apply to established customs declarations submitted from April 1, 2017.
Both countries have been granted import quotas for rice and wine as compensation for the increase from 35% to 62% in the tariff for milled rice.
Authorities at the Ministry of Agriculture indicated that Uruguay has been granted a quota 11,080 tons per year, between milled grain, unhusked and parboiled rice. Purchases made outside the established quota will incur the 62% tax.
Citing the old concepts of food sovereignty, protection is being given to the inefficient production of the few while the consumption capacity of the poorest is punished.
EDITORIAL
As expected, the government of Luis Guillermo Solís has decided to apply the safeguard measure requested by rice farmers, increasing the tax paid on imports of milled rice from 35% to 62%, which in practice only applies to rice bought in Argentina and Uruguay.
Rice producers fear not being able to sell their rice harvest because of the entry of rice from countries such as Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay at much lower prices than local ones.
"At great risk are 60,000 hectares of rice, for which there is no known market for this production because Costa Rica is being invaded by milled rice imports from southern countries (Argentina and Uruguay)," said the new President of the National Assembly of Rice Producers, Domingo González. "
A request by the National Rice Corporation for a protectionist trade measure is being analyzed by the government.
The Costa Rican government is discussing the possible application of a safeguard measure on imports of rice from Argentina and Uruguay. The measure was requested by the National Rice Corporation (Conarroz).
"The review process has been started and now we will wait and see.
In the fourth round of negotiations, Costa Rica is asking for the exclusion of detergents, plastics, paper, glass, and other industrial products from the trade agreement.
The Ministry of Foreign Trade (Comex), is calling for the elimination of some products from the trade agreement currently being discussed with Colombia such as soaps and detergents, plastics, paper and cardboard, timber, sanitary ware and glasses, which is contrary to the interests of Colombia who in the first round of negotiations called for the inclusion of the entire industrial sector in the agreement.