To imports from Guatemala to the United States, the Donald Trump government imposed 10% tariff in the same way as to the rest of the region that are part of the US Free Trade Agreement. UU. With Central America and the Dominican Republic (DR-CAFTA), which entered into force on April 5. Nicaragua was set 18% and will enter into force as of the 9 of this month.
Around 590 thousand teus (20 -foot containers) with Guatemalan products reach different ports in the United States every year, however there are six strategic ones that monopolize 60% of the load, refer to data from the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (AGEXPORT) based on the PANJIVA system and reports of US ports.
Most of the containerized load, which includes processed foods, clothing, furniture and others, is concentrated in the ports of Houston, Texas; New Orleans, Louisiana; Miami and Puerto Everglades in Florida, as well as in Wilmington in North Carolina.
In the case of the ports of Miami and Everglades they receive 25% of the Guatemalan load because they function as redistribution centers to other international states or markets, especially through large brokers, explained Carlos Steiger, an analyst for logistical competitiveness of (AGEXPORT).
In addition, perishable products such as bananas, melon, fruits and vegetables mainly reach the port of Hueneme, California, considered one of the main ten in the United States for the management of cars and fresh products.
According to the recent executive order of the US government, and signed by President Donald Trump, the merchandise is in transit before 0:01 on Saturday, April 5 will not be subject to the new tariffs, but the rest will already be applied to the new rate, which in the case of Guatemala is 10%.
Exports by main destination cities
When talking about the destination states of Guatemalan exports, these are led by Florida, to which products for US $ 1,382 million were sent; followed by California with US $ 649 million; Texas, US $ 488 million, according to data from January to November 2024, cited by AGEXPORT.
Also, New Jersey, with US $ 290 million; North Carolina with US $ 226 million; New York, US $ 160 million; Louisiana, US $ 219 million; Pennsylvania, US $ 119 million; Georgia US $ 117 million and Virginia with US $ 103 million.
Steiger explained that Florida receives the highest volume of cargo containing maritime and air transport load.
Subscriber content
In the first modality it receives about 25% of the total containers that are sent from Guatemala to the United States, and through air transport it receives 65% of the total of the exported kilograms, of that figure 98% is by the Miami airport.
“Florida is used as a distribution axis to later dispatch to other states or even make re -exports,” added the logistics expert.
In that state are the port of Miami and Everglades that are two hours away, and together they receive 12% and 13% to reach 25% mentioned.
Guatemala total exports to the United States were US $ 4,614 million in 2024, so the producers and exporters sectors have preliminary that the cost of tariff to the products that are sent from the country would be around US $ 461 million when applying 10% rate generalized.
- 76% of the export to the United States, wishes Guatemala, concentrated on 15 products during 2024, according to the Customs Administration.
- Among these: fresh bananas or bananas with US $ 985.3 million; Coffee US $ 382.7 million; T-shirts and interior t-shirts, US $ 384.7 million; Shirts, blouses and knit blouses for women, US $ 252.6 million, and melons, watermelons and fresh papayas, US $ 248.3 million; According to FOB values.
- In addition, sweaters, jerseys, knitted vests for US $ 335.3 million; Knit shirts for men and children, US $ 189.3 million; cane sugar, US $ 191.3 million; fresh or refrigerated vegetables, US $ 130.3 million; and vegetables cooked in water, steam or frozen, US $ 67.6 million.
- These 15 products also integrate, fruits without cooked or cooked, US $ 67.1 million; Sastre costumes, jacket sets, bags, long pants, US $ 57.8 million; costumes, sets and jackets of other styles, US $ 40.9 million; Boxes, bags, bags and other paper and cardboard containers, US $ 44.3 million; and raw oil oils US $ 64.3 million
Until Friday, April 4, 99.9% of the products marketed between Guatemala and the United States had already finished the BP of BTC based, and it was considered that they had a reciprocal tariff. However, now the countries of Central America lose their tariff preferences for the importation of their products to the United States, but these do not apply tariff to what comes from that American country.