Customs Union Makes Progress

Monday, February 11, 2013

Last Friday in San Jose the first round of negotiations of the Customs Union ended, having made major advances in the fields of food, medicine, manufacturing and agriculture.

A press release from the Ministry of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica reads:

On Friday in San Jose the first round of negotiations of the Customs Union ended, having made major advances in the fields of food, medicine, manufacturing and agriculture.

Central American officials discuss regional competition

Friday, June 27, 2008

Officials from five countries are analyzing issues of competitiveness at the Second Central American Competition Forum in El Salvador.

The forum is organized by the Secretariat of Central American Integration with the support of the Project for the Design and Application of Common Policies in Central America.

Central America to Negotiate New Purchase of Medicines

Friday, February 19, 2010

The region will jointly negotiate a new purchase of 28 medicines on April.

Sica also reported that the first joint purchase of medicines by Central American countries, conducted couple of months ago, carried savings of $16.7 million.

Central America Agrees Purchase of Medicines

Monday, July 12, 2010

Together with the Dominican Republic, the region has concluded the joint purchase of 15 medicines worth $60 million.

The purchase was negotiated with 22 pharmaceutical companies that presented 82 offers and equates to savings of $22 million.

The communication from the council of health ministries that represented the region added that, “the 15 medicines will be purchased by the health and social security systems of these eight countries in 2011”, according to Laprensagrafica.com.

Panama Wants to Be Part of EU Agreement

Thursday, August 20, 2009

It requested Central America's support to convince the EU of admitting its inclusion even though it doesn't belong to SIECA.

The European Union has insisted that an Association Agreement must be negotiated with the entire region. They consider membership in the Central American Economic Integration Secretary (SIECA) as an indispensable requisite to consider a country as a participant of the Agreement.

EU accepts that Costa Rica will not join Parlacen

Thursday, January 29, 2009

The European Union gave in on its desire that regarding interparlamentary dialogue, Central American representation would be exclusively be by Parlacen.

In this dialogue, Costa Rica will be represented by a member of its Legislative Assembly while other Central America countries will be represented via the regional organism.

Europe Does Not Require Customs Interconnection

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

The Association Agreement between the region and the EU will start without having completed the process of a customs union, and without having created a common tariff.

This is what officials declared at the European Union Trade Commission, "there are marked differences between the Central American nations that can not be dissolved by sheer force, because they have come about by historic events."

CA Analyzes Including Panama in the EU Agreement

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

The Council of Commerce Ministers of Central America will meet on February 17.

At their meeting in Guatemala, the ministers will analyze which methodology to use for including Panama in the Association Agreement with the European Union.

Central American customs officials meet in Nicaragua

Monday, August 4, 2008

The XXXI Meeting of the Customs Committee will be held on August 11 and 12 at the Colonial Hotel in the city of Granada

The Central American Secretariat for Economic Integration (SIECA) Report on the internal evaluation to determine the convergence of the various projects and forms that are being analyzed (regarding international transit) will also be presented, said the source.

Central America plans unification of customs procedures for Cafta

Monday, May 26, 2008

Central America is preparing a plan to unify customs procedures with the aim of validating common rules of origin.

The plan is to be presented shortly to US trade officials as part of Cafta, said René Salazar, El Salvador's director of Commercial Treaties.

Central America and the Customs Union

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

The region's federation of chambers of commerce (Fecamco in Spanish) encourages governments to keep pushing for customs union.

A Fecamco press release states that in meetings held between October 31st and November 1st discussions centered on Central America's political and economic situation that led to a renewed call to the region's governments to consider important topics.

Costa Rica: $100 Million Approved for Border Crossings

Friday, May 12, 2017

Finally, the Legislative Assembly has approved the IDB loan to improve infrastructure at the border posts of Peñas Blancas, Paso Canoas, Las Tablillas and Sixaola.

From a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Trade:

• IDB approves $100 million loan to improve border infrastructure.
• Project will benefit border posts in Peñas Blancas, Paso Canoas, Las Tablillas and Sixaola.                    

Fourth Round of Central America - South Korea FTA

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Negotiations have been finalised on the environmental chapter and progress made on Trade Facilitation and the texts of the chapters on sanitary measures, technical barriers and government procurement.

From a statement issued by the Ministry of Economy of Guatemala:

Progress in Central America - South Korea FTA

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

In the third round issues such as market access, trade defense, institutional arrangements, dispute settlement, sanitary and phytosanitary measures were discussed.

From a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica:

San Jose, March 02, 2016.- The third round of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between Central America and South Korea was held from 22nd to 26th of February in San Francisco, in the United States. During this meeting, the technical teams continued the discussion of regulatory texts and talks began on trade and sustainable development.

Regional Mortgage Guarantees

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Central America and the Dominican Republic are forging ahead with the implementation of a "Central American Mortgage."

This mechanism will facilitate and expand credit access since it will be backed up by mortgage guarantees in any of the Central American countries or the Dominican Republic.