Central American Customs Committee Pro-Tempore Presidency Delivers Comprehensive First-Semester Results for 2026

The initial half of the fiscal year concluded on June 30 with the presentation of the semi-annual performance and accountability report to private sector stakeholders. The briefing was spearheaded by the SICA Pro-Tempore Presidency, currently held by the Republic of Honduras. The high-level session served as a multilateral platform to address critical strategic axes underpinning intra-regional trade. Within the regulatory framework, delegations reviewed the current status of key legislative initiatives, most notably the completion of the analytical review of the Regulations on the International Land Customs Transit Regime, incorporating the formal observations submitted by the Central American Federation of Transportation Carriers. Furthermore, institutional advancements included comprehensive updates to the DUCA-T Technical Manuals and the official deployment of the Regional Driver Database.

Regarding the trade facilitation agenda, the Committee ratified several milestone agreements. Prominent among these was the formal accession process of the customs administrations of El Salvador, Panama, and Honduras into the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) of the Americas and the Caribbean. Concurrently, a structured work plan was approved to operationalize the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) benefits established under the Central American multilateral framework.

Following the plenary session, the respective Technical Working Groups delivered their statutory reports. The Working Group on Rules of Origin highlighted its ongoing monitoring of the alignment of the Specific Rules of Origin Annex with the 6th and 7th Amendments of the Harmonized System (HS) within the framework of the Central America-Republic of Korea FTA—currently awaiting a formal response from the Korean authorities. Similarly, within the Central America-Chile FTA framework, efforts persist to adapt common and bilateral specific rules of origin to the 7th Amendment of the Harmonized System, where the Chilean delegation is currently awaiting a technical response to its queries from the Honduran Pro-Tempore Presidency.

Technical deliberations on Tariff Classification reveal that a definitive consensus remains pending regarding technical criteria requested by Guatemala; specifically, the tariff classification for the “Apple Studio Display STD 27” and a petition for a distinct tariff line opening for “Wooden Broom Handles.” Conversely, a partial consensus was successfully achieved regarding the petition submitted by Honduras for a tariff line opening for “Prepared alcoholic beverages with an alcoholic strength by volume of 10% or less,” with minor product samples still undergoing laboratory and customs review.

Simultaneously, the Trade Facilitation Technical Group presented its regional implementation strategy, highlighting three pivotal accords focused on: tracking the operational roadmap for the Mandatory Advance Declaration; executing the General Roadmap for Coordinated Border Management (CBM); and streamlining cross-border migratory controls, respectively. Finally, the Intellectual Property Technical Group continues its rigorous evaluation of the reservations and observations formulated by Member States regarding the Regional Intellectual Property Strategy, confirming that 41 out of the 53 systemic observations compiled in its analytical matrix have been successfully reconciled.

Ayala, J. (2026, June 30). Report to the Private Sector: First-Semester Results for 2026. Honduran Pro-Tempore Presidency.