Economy
The Ministry of Economy explained how the road map progresses for a possible negotiation of tariffs with the United States.
The Minister of Economy, Gabriela García, refers to tariffs imposed by the United States to Guatemala. (Free Press Photo: Daniel Samayoa)
The Minister of Economy, Gabriela García, confirmed at a press conference this Thursday, April 10, in the National Palace, that the 10% tariff for Guatemala is still valid and that the pause announced by the President Donald Trump Apply only for 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 detected the eight non -tariff barriers.
He explained that the road map forces them to organize in the short term, since it requires a lot of coordination. This was expressed in reference to a bilateral dialogue that eventually leads to a negotiation with the United States in the tariff issue.
He said that what the United States government announced was the leveling of 10% of many countries, and that for these applies the pause announced by Trump.
Garcia said they continue working within the framework of that 10% for Guatemala, so they must act more quickly.
He added that meetings with the private sector will continue and that an analysis of the sectors that would be most impacted by the 10%tariff will be held.
He indicated that agricultural products, especially those in the category of fresh and frozen, such as bananas, coffee and melon, among others, are those that would have a more immediate impact and require greater attention.
He said they are doing a tariff analysis by product, in coordination with the owners of the companies.
Regarding the measures to expedite attention, he indicated that there are regulations that could be modified within each ministry.
The Deputy Minister of Integration and Foreign Trade, Héctor Marroquín, said they will present a proposal to the United States government that may be satisfactory to reduce or eliminate tariffs.