Authorities from both countries are fine-tuning the final details to begin construction and habilitation of the Engineers Borderland Port in Quiche, Guatemala, which will connect with Nuevo Orizaba, Chiapas, in Mexico.
Guatemalan authorities reported that the process of the Foreign Affairs Ministries is to determine where the entry and exit points of the customs will be, since on the Mexican side modifications would have to be made to match the land.
Because the implementation of the Central American Single Declaration continues to generate problems in customs in the region, the contingency plan for DUCA F and DUCA was extended until June 27.
"If you use the Contingency Plan, we suggest that you make sure you arrive at the destination country with the DUCA F and DUCA T duly processed and the supporting documents," reported the Guatemalan Association of Exporters.
Since there are still difficulties arising from the implementation of the Single Central American Declaration, the Contingency Plan for DUCA F and DUCA T was extended until 17 June.
Central American customs authorities agree to maintain in force the Contingency Plan for DUCA F and DUCA T, until June 17, 2019, at 23:59 hours. If the Contingency Plan is used, we suggest that you make sure that you arrive at the destination country with the DUCA F and DUCA T duly processed and the supporting documents," explains a statement from Agexport. See full document.
Because the entry into force of the Central American Single Declaration has generated delays in the import and export processes, a contingency plan will be implemented at all customs offices in the region.
By agreement of the Council of Ministers of Economic Integration (COMIECO), on May 7 the Single Central American Declaration (DUCA) was implemented at the regional level, a situation that has generated many difficulties arising from the implementation of the new system in the import and export processes.
The long-awaited railway connection between the two countries depends on the rehabilitation of the Doctor Rodolfo Robles bridge in Ayutla, San Marcos, which would be done this year.
According to the Guatemalan Ministry of Communications, under current conditions the bridge cannot support the load of a locomotive and using that section would be a high risk.
A contract was signed for Eurofinsa to design and build the border area for freight transport in El Amatillo, El Salvador.
From the statement of Fomilenio II:
November 30, 2018. On this day, FOMILENIO II signed the contract that will lead the start order to the design and construction of the border area for freight transport of El Amatillo (Pasaquina, La Union), with the purpose of facilitating land trade from El Salvador to other Central American countries, through coordinated border management, promoting the increase in the flow of exports and imports.
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 Legislative Assembly of El Salvador has approved incorporation into the Customs Union between Guatemala and Honduras.
Although an improvement has been reported in the transit of goods through customs posts as well as an increase in bilateral trade, there are still a lot of aspects that need improving, according to businessmen who trade among these countries.See "Customs Union: Good results, but improvement still needed"
In Costa Rica, an action of unconstitutionality filed almost three years ago is preventing the construction of a customs post on the border with Nicaragua, which would allow cargo transportation to be spared a distance of 160 kilometers.
Although the government has the $12 million needed for the final construction of the border post, where a temporary container has operated since 2013, the unconstitutionality action filed by the environmentalist Alvaro Sagot, is preventing the project from progressing.
In this third round of negotiations, discussion will take place on the border model to be implemented to incorporate El Salvador into the integration process initiated by Guatemala and Honduras.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador:
February 12.The city of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, this week becomes the site of the third round of negotiations for the incorporation of El Salvador into the process of deep integration started by Guatemala and Honduras, informed the Vice Minister of Economy, Dr. Luz Estrella Rodríguez.
Although Juan Orlando Hernández has now been declared as the winner of the elections and blockades and demonstrations have decreased, difficulties in transporting merchandise to and from Puerto Cortés, as well as land borders, remain.
As a result of the difficulties faced by entrepreneurs when transporting goods to and from Honduras, companies in neighboring countries are looking for alternatives to expedite shipments, especially those of perishable products.
The $42 charge that the Guatemalan tax authority levied at border points during the holiday season will be eliminated starting from November 1 of this year.
Guatemala, Oct 31 (DE). - The Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT) reported that as of today it will not make extraordinary collections during holidays as it did prior to November 1, when it commemorated All Saints' Day.
Of the $100 million approved to improve infrastructure at the border posts, $27 million will go towards the construction and equipment of the Paso Canoas post.
The Solis administration has reported that with therecent legislative approval of a $100 million loanto modernize border posts, the process can begin to select the land where the new infrastructure will be built, create the trust and manage the permits to develop the project.
The latest discovery of drugs in a container of Costa Rican heart of palms which was destined for Europe, brings back to the table the problem of the lack of controls in customs offices.
The problem also centers around the fact that the different authorities contradict each other when it comes to explaining who carries out the processes for the inspecting containers entering and leaving the country and how.
The Morales administration has announced that they will be formalizing the crossing between Ingenieros, Quiché, and Nueva Orizaba, Chiapas, in order to facilitate cross-border trade in that area.
As part of this project, Foreign Minister Carlos Raúl Morales explained that a 19 kilometer road to Playa Grande is also planned.
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