The imposition of 10% tariffs on the products that Guatemala exports to the United States, would represent about US $ 84 million to continue with the tariff rate, according to a calculation that announced this Holy Thursday for the organized private sector.
A document from the Business Commission of International Negotiations and Trade (CENCIT) of the private sector, warns that exports They face costs that threaten to get them out of the market for the tariff imposed by the United States.
The Cencit technical team points out that this measure, which is generally applied to Guatemalan products, “increases export costs and reduces competitiveness in its main market” which is the US.
The document indicates that there is already an immediate impact of the imposition of the tariff that has been reflected in the first days of April, which It impacts key products such as coffee, mango and macadamia, among others.
“These exports not only support employment and investment, but are also essential for thousands of rural producers and communities,” justifies the technical entity.
Scenarios
As for the projections, the Cencit indicates that, if the tariff measures are maintained for April and Major, for exports an over US $ 43 million is assumed in April and US $ 41 million in May, May, that would add US $ 84 million.
“There is already an immediate impact of the imposition of the tariff that has been reflected in the first days of April, which impacts key products such as coffee, mango and macadamia, among others,”
Cencit statement
The projection represents a daily impact between US $ 1.5 million, “What generates significant pressure on the cost structure of export companies,” adds the statement.
Call to defense
The document concludes that the business chambers that make up Cencit, reiterate the commitment to work with the government authorities to protect Guatemala’s access to the US market.
In addition to promoting solutions that protect investment, employment and export capacity.
The participating cameras are the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (AGEXPORT); Agro Chamber (Camagro); Association of Sugars of Guatemala (Asazgua); Guatemala Chamber of Commerce (CCG); Guatemala Finance Chamber (CFG) and Guatemala Chamber of Industry (CIG).
Technical table
Government authorities work in an institutional technical table to address non -tariff or “knots” measures that the United States points to Guatemala so that export and import volumes can be resolved and increase.
In the curve of understanding and understanding of the participants in the trade chain, there is already a defined map to make the necessary corrections, with the foundation of the official information provided by the Office of the United States Commercial Representative (USTR, for its acronym in English) and that highlights eight points.
The Ministry of Economy (Mineco) that coordinates the table continues with the development of the execution of the technical tables in Guatemala with the road map presented last Tuesday, April 8, Connstant meetings with representatives of the business unions.
Total exports and imports in 2024 with the United States confirm that it is the main destination and origin for an amount of US $ 15 thousand 194.7 million.
Exports reached US $ 4,650.3 million and purchases US $ 10,544.4 million, so Guatemala imports more than it sells to the US market and that is one of the central points to be developed.