Concern for imposition of 10% tariff by Donald Trump, president of the United States, The majority of its commercial partners also extend to the other part of the trade balance, and are imports, because they can also have the effect of not convincing that country that Guatemala can eliminate or reduce, at least, at least, Eight commercial barriers that prevent a greater income of American products, refer to analysts.
Given this scenario, participants in the foreign trade chain consider that there is a defined map to make the necessary corrections, given that, with the official information of the Office of the United States Commercial Representative (USTR, in English) and that it highlights eight points, The efforts are aimed at solving those limitations.
In the currency flows for exports and imports, it was reiterated that the US is the main destination and origin, for an amount of US $ 15 thousand 194.7 million in 2024. In sales were US $ 4,650.3 million; In purchases, US $ 10,544.4 million. Thus, Guatemala matters more than he sells to the US market, and that is one of the central points to develop.
Increase flows
At the discretion of the former Minister of Economy, Óscar Erasmo Velásquez, the position of the US authorities. It focuses on two lines: facilitating trade and The downloads of the goods in the ports by the importers.
In the current context, national importers and exporters in the US identified that the barriers to non -tariff trade already raise concern, or do not allow an increase in acquisitions.
Among the aforementioned barriers are techniques, phytosanitary and administrative. For example, phytosanitary conditions are those related to the control of all imported products, and fill out the requirements that, if they are destined for human consumption, have the certifications of origin.
Administrative barriers are the procedures to which all countries face at the time of entering the products, and Guatemala has a debt in the automation of such processes.
Velásquez added that, being one of the claims on the side of imports, they have already identified the time delaying the administrative process of hospitalization, that the importer’s wineries are transferred and, in the tax inspections, There are selective processes that are carried out in person and have not been resolved, so they must be automated.
By expediting these processes, a greater import of goods would be expected from that country, and part of that is due to the extension and Modernization with the Port Company Quetzal (EPQ) with the US Army EngineersIn order to improve load capabilities.
IPhone index
The technological firm led by Tim Cook, Apple, manufactures most of its products in China, a country that Trump has imposed tariffs.
Studies of UBS Investment Research and Euronews They estimated that the price of the iPhone will increase, due to tariffs on China, between 43% and 56%, and that product serves as a reference for others that could suffer similar effects.
This includes electronic devices – lables, laptops and other technological products – that are assembled in China, in addition to appliances – refrigerators and washing machines. All this can be affected, since many components come from the Asian giant, Rodolfo Pérez, an expert from EY, said.
Ana Lucía Santacruz, tax and foreign trade partner, and Ludy Lima, foreign trade manager of the firm Deloitte Guatemala, analyzed that The totality of goods produced, assembled or prepared in China will be impacted and that is destined for the US market. If Guatemala buys those products from the US market, the impact will be perceptible at a national scale.
Arman Proposal
The Minister of Economy, Gabriela García, confirmed yesterday that The 10% tariff for Guatemala is still valid and that the pause announced by President Donald Trump applies only to countries that had higher tariffs.
He added that they already met with representatives of the organized private sector and that the road map was defined from the first day they assumed the position, as they identified the eight non -tariff barriers.
He explained that the road map forces them to organize in the short term, as much coordination is required. This was expressed in reference to a bilateral dialogue that leads to a negotiation with the US. In the tariff theme.
Garcia said they continue working within the framework of that 10% for Guatemala; Therefore, meetings with the industrial sector continue to analyze the most impacted groups.