For the Central American Rice Federation, the bankruptcy of more than 62 thousand rice farmers in Central America and the Dominican Republic is imminent, due to the abolition of import tariffs, a measure that is part of the implementation of the DR-CAFTA Free Trade Agreement.
Representatives of the sector consider that if the commercial liberalization of rice cultivation continues, there will be an increase in unemployment and poverty in their agricultural areas, since more than 265,000 people depend directly on this crop and approximately 990,000 people indirectly, and foresee serious social, economic and political implications due to the effects of the Treaty.
Because yellow corn is imported from the United States at a price of $11 per quintal in Nicaragua and the cost of producing a quintal of sorghum locally is $12.5, competition for local producers is nearly impossible.
Nicaragua is part of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement, an agreement that allows yellow corn from the United States to enter the local market free of tariffs.
Following in Brazil's footsteps, Canada warned the WTO about the possibility of imposing compensation against the Costa Rican authorities' policy of raising the tariff on imported sugar from 45% to 73%.
As part of the FTA signed between the two countries, since January 1, 2020 beef and pork from the U.S. do not pay tariffs or taxes on entry into Costa Rica.
According to the Free Trade Agreement signed, the relief of beef and pork will be valid for 15 years, while the so-called black parts of the chicken, such as thighs and others, will be released until January 1, 2022, in this case for the term of 17 years.
As of January 2020, electric vehicles imported into El Salvador and Honduras will be exempt from the import duty, which was 30% in El Salvador until now.
The measure, which will be applied in both countries, was approved at the session of the Council of Ministers of Economic Integration (COMIECO), held in El Salvador on December 5 and 6.
Until 31 December 2019, yellow corn may be imported duty-free, and from 1 January 2020, a tariff rate of 40% will apply.
For the decision, the government argued in the decree published in the Gaceta that "... the production of meat, milk and eggs is produced, for the most part, from corn-based feed, which represents a little more than 65% of the total cost of meat production, especially in the production of chickens and pigs.
As of March 15, the FTA between Taiwan and El Salvador will be null and void, a situation that will prevent the Central American country from selling 80,000 tons of sugar at favorable prices.
The Salvadoran government concluded the trade agreement with the Asian country in December last year, a decision that was not consulted with the country's productive sector and will affect sugar exports, as it will no longer have preferential treatment.
Because citrus cultivation has been declared a national emergency in the country, the government authorized the import of 1.860 solid tons of orange juice.
The Secretariat of Economic Development has authorized the entry of orange juice to the country without tariff. According to the authorities, this action is expected to ensure the supply of the product in the local market.
For Nicaraguan stockbreeders, the imposition of a 30% tariff on beef imports from Panama violates the conditions established in the trade agreement between the two countries.
In Panama, representatives of the Nicaraguan Chamber of Beef Export Plants (Canicarne), reported that the imposition of tariffs and other non-tariff measures for Nicaraguan meat have stockbreeders and industrialists concerned.
To correct alleged price distortions in the local market, the Panamanian government plans to regulate imports of beef from Nicaragua.
The Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA)'s plan is to establish new import rules, which will aim to correct the "distortion in the price of beef paid for the local product."
The government is preparing a decree of a shortage in order to authorize the duty free import of 25,000 tons of beans, for the period between June 2018 and May of next year.
As happens every year, the National Production Commission (CNP) must authorize the duty free import of the grain, to cover the annual demand of 48,000 metric tons that can not be met with local production.
Starting from June 30, 2018 products such as stomach, intestines and bladders from Nicaragua may enter the Asian country duty free.
From a statement issued by the Embassy of Taiwan in Nicaragua:
Managua, Wednesday, June 27, 2018.Under the provisions of the Second Free Trade Meeting of the current FTA between Taiwan and Nicaragua, as of June 30, 2018, Decision No. 6 will enter into force, which establishes that Taiwan can import the following bovine products tariff-free: stomach, intestines and bladders, from Nicaragua.
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.
Through the treaty the Israeli market will have preferential access to Panamanian products such as vinegar, coffee, palm oil, beef, cassava, flour and beer, among other things.
The Panamanian government reported that "...In the framework of a meeting between the president of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela and the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, a Free Trade Agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding on agricultural matters was signed."
A little more than a month after the Panamanian government decided to raise import tariffs on various products as a measure of retaliation against the South American country, representatives from both governments reaffirmed their positions at a WTO hearing.
The outcome of the hearing will be announced by the WTO between August and September, according to the rules that govern the agency.
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