On April 5 he entered into force A 10% tariff for imports to the United States of Guatemalan products, as provided by President Donald Trump.
In that sense, Guatemala government authorities said Monday, April 7, at a press conference at the National Palace, which have a road map to negotiate this tariff issue with the US.
President Bernardo Arévalo said that now, as a country, it corresponds “to understand how we are going to sail this new reality in international economic relations and how we can take advantage of the new environment that is being created in the best possible way.”
He affirmed that the government, through its embassy in Washington, has already established contact with the United States government, specifically with the office of the Commerce Representative.
He said that Ambassador Hugo Beteta works to know the implementation process and the possibilities of negotiation for the reduction or elimination of tariffs imposed by Trump to Guatemala.
Arévalo said that this announcement has caused uncertainty worldwide and also in Guatemala.
“I call so that at this new moment we act calmly, with peace of mind and with the confidence that this challenge can become an opportunity for our country,” he said.
He stressed that Guatemala is in a historic moment in his diplomatic relations with the United States.
He added that the route on which They work is for the reduction or elimination of tariffs.
He explained that the private sector will be integrated together with the Government to identify the measures that need to adopt.
Arévalo reported that, in that sense, for this Tuesday, April 8 He summoned a meeting with different leaders of the private sector, because the goal is to make them known in detail the road map that the government has raised to face this situation.
He said they already have a document that starts from the identification of the eight non -tariff barriers that the United States government has indicated.
He added that, within the framework of the negotiations that are intended, there will be technical visits of Guatemalan officials and entrepreneurs to the United States, with the aim of reaching agreements on tariffs.
Gabriela García, Minister of Economy, indicated that they had possible scenarios related to tariffs and that, already with the report of the eight non -tariff commercial barriers, they must work to establish dialogue conditions and potential negotiation.
He explained that The route map that they make has an immediate frame of four weeks. He added that this week they begin to execute the identified measures, which must validate at the meeting with the private sector.
He indicated that a document was prepared, even for internal use, which must be validated with the private sector. This addresses the identification of all products that are exported to the United States, as well as those that are imported and their weight in the national economy.
Garcia added that Reciprocal tariffs will not be imposed on products from the United States. He affirmed that the road map is yet to be validated.