International Commerce
in Central America
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Technical teams from Costa Rica and Canada will start the second round of negotiations this week in order to upgrade the FTA which has been in place since 2002.
Costa Rica hopes to negotiate an agreement to allow non-discriminatory access to the Canadian market to Costa Rican service providers. It also seeks the elimination of tariffs on digital products transmitted electronically.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
The region will hold the first round of negotiations with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
The round of negotiations will take place between February 27th and March 1st.
Efta members are Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, all countries outside the European Union.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
The new government authorities want to emphasize improving competitiveness and investment attraction.
More competitiveness and attracting foreign investment. Those are the two axes of a renewed foreign trade policy announced by the National Council for Promotion of Exports (CONAPEX) in Guatemala.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Despite tariff removals and opening up of markets provisioned by the FTA, which has been in force since 2004, trade between both countries is low.
During the first half of 2011, $16.2 million worth of Panamanian products were exported to Taiwan (merchandise placed in port FOB) and $21.7 million (cost, insurance and freight or CIF) of goods were imported from the Asian country according to the latest figures from the Controller's Office.
Monday, February 6, 2012
The assembly company Daewoo produces units which are sold in the Dominican Republic and put together to be sent to Panama.
The assembly plant in Costa Rica is preparing six units which will soon be sold to clients in the Domincan Republic, as part of their regional expansion plans, revealed its president Max Anderson.
The company also has plans to sell units to Panama. This will be made possible thanks to the plant having undergone a process of modernization which has given it the capacity to produce between 300 and 500 units per year, reported ElFinancierocr.com.
Friday, February 3, 2012
In 2013, Guatemala will host the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), announced President Otto Perez.
The president, after meeting with Deputy Secretary General of the organisation, Albert Ramdin, told reporters that "the OAS General Assembly is an important matter for us because it is an event where representatives come from every country and it will take place here in Guatemala", reported the web site MiPunto.com.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Panama has delivered its instrument of adherence to the Treaty of Montevideo of 1980 formalizing its entry as a full member of the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI).
A press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama reads:
Thursday, February 2, 2012
The Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Central America has met in Managua, to discuss proposals and initiatives to overcome barriers of various kinds to trade on the isthmus.
"The president of the Chamber of Commerce of Nicaragua (CACONIC), Mario Gonzalez, said that employers are looking for strategies to strongly influence their respective governments with the aim of stopping them from blocking regional trade, including the closure of the borders, for political reasons or non-tariff related barriers," reported La Prensa in its online edition.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Government representatives have expressed their interest in continuing negotiations for a trade agreement with Aruba this year.
Deputy Minister of International Trade Negotiations, Diana Salazar, spoke about a second round of talks with Aruba and the start of talks with Barbados.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
The report argues that tariffs on Central American imports imposed by the Dominican Central on tubular fabric and polypropylene bags, of up to 38%, are in violation of its rules.
The Central American tariffs on imports of tubular fabric and polypropylene bags, imposed by the Dominican Republic, are in violation of the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO), said a report by the agency.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Producers are complaining about the government’s unfulfilled promises to place their crops in the market, and demanding an end to rice imports.
Producers in the Guanacaste area are protesting again, demanding that the government respects a promise agreed last November, which, according to the rice growers, would resolve the placement of more than five thousand tons of rice which has been stored in dry silos, both public and private, since September 2011.
Monday, January 30, 2012
The countries have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the use of satellites, and made some business deals. There is also possible interest on the part of the Russians in a railroad worth $52 million.
The Nicaraguan Minister of Development, Industry and Commerce, Orlando Solorzano, and the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, signed an agreement for economic cooperation and scientific and technical information.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Representatives from 21 companies interested in doing business will arrive on Feb. 23rd
Representatives from 21 companies will arrive in Guatemala on 23rd and February 24th to explore possible business opportunities, said the president of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Guatemala, Rafael Briz.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
The Asian giant has suggested signing a free trade agreement, one to avoid double taxation, and a treaty to exchange financial information and technology exchanges.
India seeks to strengthen trade relations with Panama, "tripling" the flow of trade between the two countries, said Yogeshwar Varma, India's ambassador in Panama, according to an article in Prensa.com.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Some 145 Salvadoran companies will participate this year in international fairs, particularly those related to the food and beverage sector.
Some 145 firms, mostly medium and small sized, will participate in trade fairs in Germany, Colombia, Taiwan and Panama, among other countries, and it is expected that deals will be made worth around $30 million.