Air Cargo: New Competitor in PanamaThursday, February 13, 2020 The company of Chilean origin Latam Cargo began operations in the country and will offer its services on Tuesdays and Thursdays to cover the Miami-Panama-Bogotá route. Directors of Tocumen International Airport informed that the refueling and cargo movement service offered by Latam Cargo will be operated with a Boeing 763 aircraft. Tariff Dispute: Colombia's New OffensiveWednesday, August 14, 2019 The South American country decided to impose a tariff of 37.9% on clothing when its declared FOB price is less than or equal to $20, again affecting businessmen in the Colon Free Zone in Panama. Decree Number 1416 of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism of Colombia, dated August 6, 2019, specifies in its Article 1 that establishes "... a tariff of thirty-seven point nine percent (37.9%) on imports of products classified in chapters 61 and 62 of the National Customs Tariff, when the declared FOB price is less than or equal to 20 United States dollars per gross kilogram." Economic Development Zones: Projects Move ForwardTuesday, July 9, 2019 Puerta del Istmo, Centro Logístico Quetzal and ZDEEP Piedras Negras, are the projects advancing in Guatemala in the process of becoming Zones of Special Public Economic Development. After the Santo Tomás de Castilla Free Trade and Industry Zone (Zolic) approved in April the first Special Public Economic Development Zone (ZDEEP) called "Michatoya Pacifico", which is on the Puerto Quetzal, Escuintla Highway, there are three other projects that have begun the process to establish. Central America: Customs Difficulties PersistWednesday, June 19, 2019 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. Difficulties in Customs Do Not StopThursday, June 6, 2019 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. Customs Problems: Contingency Plan ExpandedTuesday, May 14, 2019 Until May 20, the validity of the regional contingency plan was extended to customs, which was activated because of the difficulties generated by the use of the Central American Single Declaration. Since May 7, when the Single Central American Declaration (DUCA) was implemented at the regional level, the situation in customs has been complicated, because of multiple difficulties reported in the import and export processes arising from the implementation of the new system. Contingency Plan for Customs ChallengesFriday, May 10, 2019 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. Costly Break to Regional TradeThursday, March 21, 2019 Central American businessmen assure that the customs tax on the transport of cargo in transit or with final destination that the Nicaraguan government wants to impose "threatens the instruments of Central American integration, and becomes an obstacle to intraregional trade. Weeks ago it was reported that from March 15 would begin to collect the customs tax, however, the authorities did not specify what amount will be required from carriers. Nicaragua: Trade Agreement with Europe At RiskThursday, March 14, 2019 The European Parliament will evaluate Nicaragua's possible suspension of the Association Agreement, which allows 91% of products, mostly agricultural, to enter the 28 EU countries under preferential conditions. The European Parliament plans to discuss Nicaragua's suspension of the Association Agreement (AA), an agreement that allows 91% of products, mostly agricultural, to enter the 28 EU countries under preferential conditions. Exporters: Two Sides of One CoinMonday, January 28, 2019 The increase in Costa Rican exports during 2018 was mainly due to the performance of the 187 companies in the free zone, in contrast to the almost zero growth reported by companies exporting under the traditional scheme. Figures from the Foreign Trade Promoter of Costa Rica (Procomer) detail that last year Costa Rica's exports totaled $11.312 million, 6% more than that recorded in 2017. Dominican Republic: Exports increase 10%Friday, November 2, 2018 From January to September of this year, the country's exports reached $7,157 million, registering a 10% increase compared to the same period last year. The General Directorate of Customs reported that total exports during January-September 2018 totaled US$7,157.44 million, an increase of 9.92% compared to 2017. For this period, 60.93% of exports belong to the free trade zones regime, 35.92% to the national regime, 3.07% to temporary admission and the remaining 0.09% to re-export. Request to Exclude Maritime Sector from FTA with ChinaThursday, October 18, 2018 Arguing that local investments could be at risk, the Maritime Chamber requested the exclusion of the maritime sector from the trade agreement that Panama negotiates with the Asiatic giant. In a note addressed to the Chief Negotiator of Panama, the trade guild of the sector requested not to include the maritime sector, and especially the auxiliary maritime industry, in the negotiations of the FTA between Panama and China. International Event for Free ZonesFriday, September 21, 2018 From October 1 to 3, Guatemala will be hosting a Conference on Free Zones of the Americas, where topics such as the potential and benefits of companies in the sector will be discussed. From a statement issued by the Association of Free Zones of the Americas: Free Zones: Exports Slow DownThursday, September 13, 2018 From January to July 2018, sales abroad from free zones in Costa Rica grew by 8%, well below the 12% increase registered in the first seven months of 2017. According to data from the Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer) between the first seven months of 2016 and the same period in 2017, exports of products in free zones went from $2.874 billion to $3.208 billion, representing an increase of 11.6%. Customs Procedures in Guatemala StreamlinedThursday, July 12, 2018 The tax authority has launched a new electronic platform, which lets exporters to register in only 24 hours. With this new method available through the Virtual Agency, wait times have been considerably reduced, since the inscription in the categories of habitual exporter, optional and special regime for the refund of tax credits had until now been carried out face-to-face and as a whole they took on average 67 days. |
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