G/TFA/N/GTM/5   
22 June 2023 
(23-4299) Page: 1/6 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: Spanish  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF ARRANGEMENTS AND PROGRESS IN THE PROVISION  
OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT  
OF CATEGORY C DESIGNATIONS  
COMMUNICATION FROM GUATEMALA  
The following communication, dated 22 June 2023, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Guatemala.  
 
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Guatemala hereby notifies information on the arrangements concluded and progress made in the 
provision of technical assistance and capacity -building support for the following cate gory C 
designations, in accordance with Article 16 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 1.1.1  (f) Publication of 
information  C 1 February 2020  1 February 2020  
Donors/Agencies:  
United States Department of Commerce (USDOC), under the Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP).  
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity -building support:  
 
In order to comply with Article 1.1 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (Publication of Information), Guatemala 
notified the need for:  
1. Technical assistance with software and computer equipment to implement an information system.  
 
Regarding point 1, with US DOC and CLDP funding, training was received and mapping was carried out of 
available trade information, means of publication of information and gaps to overcome. Subsequently, drawing 
on the experience gained, the corresponding transparency notification wa s prepared.  
 
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Articles  
1.2.1 (a) -(b) 
Article 1.3.1  Information Available 
Through Internet  
Enquiry Points  C 1 February 2020  1 February 2020  
Donors/Agencies:  
European Union, under the programme of support for the improvement of the competitiveness and commercial 
capacity of MSMEs and cooperatives.  G/TFA/N/GTM/5  
 
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  Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity -building support:  
In order to comply with Articles 1.2 (Information Available Through Internet) and 1.3 (Enquiry Points), 
Guatemala notified the need for:  
1. Software and computer equipment to implement an information system for foreign trade operations.  
2. Financial support to establish a s ingle enquiry point fitted with IT equipment, software and other 
necessary tools.  
Regarding point 1, with funding from the Ministry of the Economy, mapping was carried out of trade 
information available through the Internet and all government agencies with  competence in respect of 
import, export or transit processes, and it was verified that these agencies have an institutional website 
where information can be accessed freely by any interested party. This information was duly notified to the 
Committee on Tr ade Facilitation.  
Regarding point 2, with funding from the European Union, the IT platform and web portal for Guatemala's 
single enquiry point for foreign trade were designed, developed and improved. This initiative was included in 
the plan for the impleme ntation of the single window for foreign trade, as a first phase prior to the 
development of links with all government agencies competent to handle the import, export and transit of 
goods. This site is constantly reviewed by the authorities concerned in or der to keep the information up to 
date. The portal for the single enquiry point can be viewed at https://comercioeinversionguate.gob.gt/  
 
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 7.6.1  Establishment and 
Publication of Average 
Release Times  C 1 July 2020  1 July 2020  
Donors/Agencies:  
World Customs Organization (WCO), through the MERCATOR programme   
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity -building support:  
In order to comply with Article 7.6 (Establishment and Publication of Average Release Times), Guatemala 
notified the need for:  
1. Technical assistance for capacity -building and standards development.  
2. Financial assistance for a study to determine, on the basis of international best practices, the 
methodology and bodies responsible for calculating the average release time at national l evel. 
 
Regarding both point 1 and point 2, with technical assistance from the World Customs Organization (WCO), 
and using the Tax Administration Supervisory Authority's own resources, the first study of release times in 
Guatemala was carried out, with the participation of numerous public and private entities involved in the 
Public -Private Dialogue and Cooperation Round Table on customs issues. The study was conducted in four 
phases, in accordance with the recommendations of the WCO Guide to Measure the Time  Required for the 
Release of Goods, and the results are publicly available at https://portal.sat.gob.gt/portal/estudio -de-
tiempos -de-despacho/  
 
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Articles  
10.1.1 (a)  
10.1.1 (b)  Formalities and 
Documentation 
Requirements  C 1 July 2020  1 July 2020  
Donors/Agencies:  
To be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity -building support:  
 
In order to comply with Article 10.1 (Formalities and Documentation Requirements), Guatemala notified the 
need for:  
 
1. Financial assistance for a study to determine, on the basis of international best practices, the time 
frames and conditions of implementation of this measure.  G/TFA/N/GTM/5  
 
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  Guatemala reports that it did not receive the assistance or capacity -building support from donors to implement 
Article 10.1.  
 
Using its own resources, it has made progress in some isolated analyses to determine the feasibility of 
reducing and simplifying documentation requirements for import, export and transit. However, these 
resources being limited, it has not been possible to do this on a wide scale.  
 
An effort was also made to adopt the Law on the Simplification of Administrative Requirements and 
Proce dures, Decree No. 5 -2021 of the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala, which establishes parameters 
for simplifying and reducing foreign trade procedures and an obligation of implementation, albeit limited by 
the lack of financial resources in the governme ntal sector.  
 
Guatemala reiterates its request for cooperation in mapping documentation requirements for import, export 
and transit, likely reduction alternatives based on international best practices and national regulations, and 
timelines for carrying o ut this work.  
 
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Articles  
10.4.1  
10.4.2  Single Window  C 1 July 2022  1 January 2024  
Donors/Agencies:  
United States Agency for International Development (USAID), on a partial basis , at a preliminary stage. To 
be determined for the remaining stages.  
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity -building support:  
 
In order to comply with Article 10.4 (Single Window), Guatemala notified the need for:  
 
1. Technical assistance to learn about international best practices in single window implementation, as regards 
both procedures and IT, and funding so that experts from countries with suc cess stories in this connection, 
such as the European Union and Korea, can come to Guatemala to provide advice.  
 
Guatemala reports that it has not yet received all the assistance and capacity -building support from donors 
to implement Article 10.4 and that the notified requirements therefore still apply.  
A consultation is currently under way, with the assistance of USAID, to identify the technological gaps that 
prevent government agencies responsible for issuing import authorizations from doing so electroni cally. This 
mapping is a preliminary phase in the development of subsequent activities, for which there are neither the 
resources nor the necessary capacity for implementation . 
 
Details of financial assistance:  
• Speciali zed consultation to determine the ideal IT management model for the single window, based 
on international best practices.  
 
Additional assistance and capacity -building:  
 
2. IT developments to enable government agencies to issue import authorizations electronically.  
3. IT devel opments to enable online payment for the above -mentioned authorizations.  
4. Development of an IT platform to enable the interoperability of information between government agencies 
that issue import authorizations, including the electronic transmission of s uch authori zations and their linkage 
with the corresponding customs declarations, which will enable coordinated management through a single 
point on the Internet.  
5. Hardware, including processors, high -capacity physical storage units and redundancy/backup  units, and 
software to guarantee the security of operations and the integrity of information.  
 
A. Objective of the VUCE  
 
Facilitate the provision of information and the management of the import, export and transit of goods through 
a single reference point  on the Internet.  
 G/TFA/N/GTM/5  
 
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  B. Background  
 
In 2017, work began on creating a Foreign Trade Portal ( https://comercioeinversionguate.gob.gt/ ) to enable 
the publication of foreign trade information by all competent authorities, which made it possible, during the 
first phase, to meet the following commitments under the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation:  
 
Article 1 
Paragraph 2.1: Each Member shall make available, and update to the extent possible and as appropriate, the 
following through the internet:  
(a) a description of its procedures for importation, exportation, and transit, including procedures for appeal 
or review, that informs governments, traders, and other interested parties of the practical steps needed 
for importation, exportation, and transit;  
(b) the forms and documents required for importation into, exportation from, or transit through the 
territor y of that Member;  
(c) contact information on its enquiry point(s).  
Paragraph 2.2: Whenever practicable, the description referred to in subparagraph 2.1(a) shall also be made 
available in one of the official languages of the WTO.  
Paragraph 2.3 : Members are encouraged to make available further trade -related information through the 
internet, including relevant trade -related legislation and other items referred to in paragraph 1.1.  
Paragraph 3.1: Each Member shall, within its available resources, e stablish or maintain one or more enquiry 
points to answer reasonable enquiries of governments, traders, and other interested parties on matters 
covered by paragraph 1.1 and to provide the required forms and documents referred to in 
subparagraph  1.1(a).  
Paragraph 3.2 : Members of a customs union or involved in regional integration may establish or maintain 
common enquiry points at the regional level to satisfy the requirement of paragraph 3.1 for common 
procedures.  
Paragraph 3.3 : Members are encouraged not to  require the payment of a fee for answering enquiries and 
providing required forms and documents. If any, Members shall limit the amount of their fees and charges to 
the approximate cost of services rendered.  
Paragraph 3.4 : The enquiry points shall answer enquiries and provide the forms and documents within a 
reasonable time period set by each Member, which may vary depending on the nature or complexity of the 
request.  
 
Through the implementation of the Foreign Trade Portal, full compliance has been achieve d with the above 
provisions by making available, to any interested party, a single point on the Internet where they can find all 
information on procedures, regulations, forms, costs and other aspects related to the import, export and 
transit of goods.  
 
C. Phases of the VUCE project  
 
The Foreign Trade Portal was launched in the initial phase of a larger project entitled "Single Window for 
Foreign Trade - VUCE", which has been designed in three phases:  
1. Single portal for foreign trade information  
2. Portal  for the online management of authorizations (licences, certificates and non -tariff permits) 
related to foreign trade  
3. Single window: the two previous components plus the possibility of paying online for foreign trade -
related authorizations and the inter operability of information between competent authorities.  
 
D. Current situation  
 
Phase 1:  
 
The Foreign Trade Portal was made available for use in January 2021 and has been refined over time, with 
foreign trade -related information being uploaded by all publ ic entities that have some competence with regard 
to the import, export and transit of goods. These entities are:  
 
• Ministry of the Economy  
• Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food  
• Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare  
• Ministry of Energy and Mining  G/TFA/N/GTM/5  
 
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  • Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources  
• Ministry of National Defence  
• Ministry of Culture and Sports  
• Tax Administration Supervisory Authority  
• National Council for Protected Areas  
• National Forestry Institute  
 
Phase 2:  
 
Phase 2 of the project (online management portal), which is under development, involves the competent 
public entities complying with and implementing the Law on the Simplification of Administrative Procedures  
by simplify ing and facilitat ing the online management of the s ervices that they provide to external users. The 
objective of this phase is to allow foreign trade users to start managing their import and export authorizations 
through a single point on the Internet via the Foreign Trade Portal. It was launched publicly in July 2022 and 
will gradually incorporate those competent authorities whose IT systems are less developed.  
 
Phase 3:  
 
Phase 3 of the project has not yet begun. The final date for implementation is currently set for December 
2023. The overarching goal is to functionally implement the single window for foreign trade (VUCE) and ensure 
that any payments for permits, licences, certificates and other authorizations can be made online. In addition, 
this phase of the project seeks to ensure th e interoperability of information between all the competent 
authorities in the field of foreign trade, with the aims of avoiding the duplication of information requested 
from platform users, simplifying management and incorporating the authorizations issue d into customs 
declarations electronically.  
The VUCE will enable Guatemala to comply with the following provision of the WTO Trade Facilitation 
Agreement:  
 
Article 10  
Paragraph 4: Single Window  
Paragraph 4.1 : Members shall endeavour to establish or maintai n a single window, enabling traders to submit 
documentation and/or data requirements for importation, exportation, or transit of goods through a single 
entry point to the participating authorities or agencies. After the examination by the participating aut horities 
or agencies of the documentation and/or data, the results shall be notified to the applicants through the single 
window in a timely manner.  
Paragraph 4.2 : In cases where documentation and/or data requirements have already been received through 
the single window, the same documentation and/or data requirements shall not be requested by participating 
authorities or agencies except in urgent circumstances and other limited exceptions which are made public.  
 
The WTO was notified of an implementation da te of 1 January 2024 at the latest. A request is being made to 
extend this deadline to 30 June 2025 pursuant to Article 17 of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement.  
 
E. Difficulties encountered and problems in implementation  
 
• Uneven technological developm ent, which means that some agencies have highly developed tools 
(platforms, electronic signatures, payments), while others barely publish information online and have 
an entirely paper -based approach to the management of foreign trade authorizations.  
• Negative impact of the pandemic, as government agencies' budgets were directed towards combating 
and preventing COVID -19, which reduced the scope for the required technological developments.  
• There has been donor cooperation, but only in specific parts of the  project, with several activities still 
pending in order to finalize the VUCE.  
 
F. Positive factors and experiences in implementation  
 
• Willingness, cooperation and support from government agencies for the implementation of the VUCE, 
despite budgetary con straints.  
• Entry into force, on 30 August 2021, of Decree No. 5 -2021, Law on the Simplification of Administrative 
Requirements and Procedures, which aims to modernize administrative management by simplifying, 
streamlining and digitizing administrative pro cedures, using information and communication 
technologies to facilitate interaction between natural or legal persons and State agencies.  
• Support from the Presidential Commission on Open and Electronic Government, which improves 
coordination among government agencies.  
 G/TFA/N/GTM/5  
 
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  G. Public/private sector coordination  
 
Government agencies have coordinated effectively through specific working groups of the National Committee 
on Trade Facilitation.  
• The private sector is allowed to participate and has the opportunity to propose, comment on and 
collaborate with projects through its participation in the National Committee on Trade Facilitation. To 
date, however, its input has been very limited, with no concrete proposals and no technical/economic 
assistance.  
 
H. Cooperation received  
 
• The European Union cooperated in the development of the single portal for foreign trade information 
(phase I of the Single Window) through the programme of support for the improvement of the 
competitiveness and commercial capaci ty of MSMEs and cooperatives by funding the IT development 
of the Internet platform and its sustainability for a short period of time. After this period, the 
sustainability of the platform and Internet portal is entrusted to the Guatemalan Ministry of the 
Economy.  
• The United States Department of Commerce (USDOC) and the Commercial Law Development Program 
(CLDP) cooperated with the main competent authorities in the collection and publication of foreign 
trade information. This helped to ensure compliance wi th Article 1 of the WTO Trade Facilitation 
Agreement and the corresponding transparency notification.  
• The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided funding for a study to 
assess the current situation in Guatemala, gaps in im plementation and related recommendations, 
which is in the process of being carried out. The results of the study are expected to be received in 
September 2023.  
• The European Union has offered to support the implementation of the VUCE within the framework of a 
new programme to promote Guatemala's foreign trade. However, this offer is subject to approval by 
the European Commission. If this is received, implementation would begin in mid -2024.  
 
I. Technical assistance needs  
 
There is a need for direct support, such as that provided by the European Union for the IT development of 
the Foreign Trade Portal.  
• Support for the standardization of the IT developments of agencies involved in foreign trade: online 
management, online payment, electronic signature . 
• Support for the interoperability of information: development of a platform allowing the interoperability 
of information, online management and a connection to the IT system of the Tax Administration Supervisory 
Authority (SAT).  
 
 
Provision  Heading/Des cription  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 12  Customs Cooperation  C 1 July 2020  1 July 2020  
Donors/Agencies:  
To be determined  
 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity -building support:  
 
In order to comply with Article 12 (Customs Cooperation), Guatemala notified the need for:  
 
1. Technical and financial assistance to develop an IT system for electronically managing requests for 
information from other Members, w ith the necessary security measures to ensure confidentiality.  
 
Guatemala reports that it did not receive the assistance or capacity -building support from donors to implement 
Article 12. However, using its own resources, the customs administration took the  necessary steps to respond 
to requests for information from other Members, without putting in place an IT system for this purpose.  
 
 
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