ZCZC
BCN-12
HONDURAN-BRITAIN-EU-TRADE-DEAL
Honduran exporters welcome Britain-Central America trade deal: officials
TEGUCIGALPA, July 22, 2019 (BSS/Xinhua) – Honduran exporters welcome the
signing of a trade and political continuity agreement with Britain, which
ensures ongoing exchange after Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU),
according to Honduran officials.
Medardo Galindo, president of the Honduran Federation of Agroexporters,
said the UK-Central America Association Agreement was important, since “we
will be able to continue exporting products without losing the tax benefits
we have with the EU.”
Honduran Minister of Economic Development Arnaldo Castillo said “once
Brexit takes effect, we will continue to benefit from the advantages of the
free-trade agreements” already signed with European countries, thanks to the
accord.
The agreement “provides a framework for cooperation and development
through political dialogue, increased economic ties” and work on other
issues, the British government said Thursday in a statement.
The agreement was jointly signed by Britain, Costa Rica, El Salvador,
Guetemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on July 18 in Nicaragua, in the
lead up to Britain’s expected withdrawal from the European bloc.
In 2018, the trade volume between Central America and Britian reached
1.255 billion U.S. dollars, and the Central American countries enjoyed trade
surpluses.
Britain is the fourth-largest European market for the Honduran export,
according to the Central Bank of Honduras.
Up to April, the Honduran imports from Britain amounted to 8 million
dollars while exports surpassed 41.7 million dollars.
BSS/XINHUA/HR/1410