DOING BUSINESS PUBLIC SECTOR OVERVIEW
By Werner Ovalle Intendant of Customs
If one considers a global scenario where population growth, ever-increasing demand for goods and services, growing logistical challenges for international trade engaging in legitimate trade, infrastructure limitations, increased smuggling, and controls needed for reasons of security, one must realize that the costs involved are sometimes higher than tariffs or productive process costs.
at all times the active participation of Customs Services, but it should be noted also that TFA also promotes the role of other border control agencies as well as of the Private Sector, which confirms the strategic vision of the WTO in viewing a Customs System as one formed by several public and private stakeholders, called upon to adopting the TFA with a nation-wide perspective.
With this background in mind, the historical challenge for Customs is to become national, regional and global competitiveness tools with the strategic vision of empowered legitimate trade supported with its operations, which should lead to increased trade flow with the resulting increase in employment, tax collection and better prices for consumers, all of which favor and strengthen States.
REGIONAL COMPETITIVENESS TOOLS:
GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS TOOLS:
Additionally, Central America now has the first Customs Union in the American Continent, a significant accomplishment by Guatemala and Honduras that will lead to the following benefits:
The Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) includes twelve provisions in Section I to streamline Customs processing and dispatch of goods globally with the support of each one of its member states (including for in-transit goods). These provisions require
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The effort by Central America to promote Customs Services as regional competitiveness tools should be highlighted. This effort is reflected in the Central American Trade Facilitation and Competitiveness Strategy, with emphasis on Coordinated Border Management.