Guatemala
The Arvaja and Vegetable Committee of Guatemala expressed concern, through a press release, for the recent announcement of the president of the United States, Donald Trump to impose 10% tariffs on the products of Guatemala and other countries.
Some products in the agricultural sector could be one of the most affected with the new 10% tariffs to import the United States, produce producers and exporters. (Photo, Free Press: PL hemeroteca).
Guatemala’s Arvaja and Vegetable Committee expressed concern, through a press release, for the recent announcement of the president of the United States, Donald Trumpabout the Imposition of a 10% base tariff to imports from Guatemala, which entered into force this Saturday, April 5, 2025.
The union indicated that, as a sector Vegetable exporterconsiders that this measure will negatively affect the competitiveness of the country, with a direct effect on the increase in rural poverty, which currently reaches 60%.
They added that this situation would reduce income in areas where export crops such as Chinese pea, French Ejote and mini vegetables have represented a real opportunity for producers to integrate into value chains, generating qualified and not qualified employment for women and men, in many occasions in areas where there are no other labor options. This possibility could be lost, which would increase irregular migration towards USA.
Likewise, the union said: “In addition to these new measures, as a sector we have to face the challenges involved in climate variability, lack of irrigation, lack of agricultural innovation, such as access to new varieties; the high costs of maritime and aerial freight, and mainly the poor road infrastructure in Guatemalawhich have significant economic repercussions in the sector ”.
The committee highlighted the importance of the benefits that the Free Trade Agreement between the United States, Central America and the Dominican Republic (DR-CAFTA)such as the impulse to exports, employment and investment attraction. This agreement has consolidated Guatemala’s access to one of the most important markets in the world, under clear and stable rules, in addition to strengthening its role as United States Strategic Allied in politicsdiplomatic and commercial.
For this reason, the union urged the Guatemalan authorities to establish a dialogue with the US government, with the aim of addressing this problem and seeking immediate solutions that safeguard the interests of the vegetable export sector.
