Guatemala prepares customs agreements with Mexico and the U.S.

By Mayora IP

The governments of Guatemala and Mexico will implement a common customs agreement that will simplify import and export declarations to a single procedure and allow the exchange of information.

The announcement was made by authorities of the Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT) of Guatemala, which said that a similar customs agreement will soon take place with the United Sates Customs and Border Protection (CPB).

Guatemala is also working on its accession to the Revised Kyoto Convention. On May 19, 2020, it took place the first virtual working session of the World Customs Organization’s technical assistance on Guatemala’s accession to the Revised Kyoto Convention.

The Convention is the blueprint for modern and efficient customs procedures. It promotes trade facilitation and effective controls through its legal provisions that detail the application of simple yet efficient procedures, and contains new and obligatory rules for its application which all contracting parties must accept without reservation.

Some of its several key governing principles are:

-Transparency and predictability of customs actions.
-Standardization and simplification of the goods declaration and supporting documents.
-Simplified procedures for authorized persons.
-Maximum use of information technology.
-Minimum necessary customs control to ensure compliance with regulations.
-Use of risk management and audit based controls.
-Coordinated interventions with other border agencies.
-Partnership with the trade.