WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SCM/N/211/GTM 
7 July 2010 
 
 (10-3692) 
Committee on Subsidies and 
Countervailing Measures Original:   Spanish 
 
 
 
SUBSIDIES 
 
Continuation of Extension under SCM Article 27.4 of the Transition Period for the  
Elimination of Export Subsidies Pursuant to the Procedures Contained in the  
General Council Decision in Document WT/L/691  
 
Updating Notification  
 
GUATEMALA 
 
  The following communication, dated 30 June 2010,  is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Guatemala.  
_______________ 
 
  Pursuant to Article XVI:1 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 and 
Article 27.4 of the Agreement on Subsidies a nd Countervailing Measures ("the SCM Agreement") 
and in accordance with the procedures laid  down in the General Council Decision in 
document WT/L/691 of 31 July 2007 ("the Deci sion"), Guatemala hereby submits this updating 
notification for the period 1 July 2009 to 30 June  2010, together with its respective action plan. 
  Guatemala did not increase the favourabilit y of the notified programmes in the 
above-mentioned period.  G/SCM/N/211/GTM 
Page 2  
 
  TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
Page 
 I. Exemption from company tax;  exemption from customs duties and other import taxes, 
including value-added tax (VAT), on impor ts of machinery, equipment, parts, 
components and accessories required for the production process of companies under special customs regimes...................................................................................................  2 
 II. Exemption from company tax;  exemption from customs duties and other import taxes, 
including value-added tax (VAT), on impor ts of machinery, equipment, parts, 
components and accessories required for the production process relating to activities 
of managers and users of Free Zones...............................................................................  3 
 III. Exemption from company tax;  exemption from customs duties and other import taxes, 
including value-added tax (VAT), on impor ts of machinery, equipment, parts, 
components and accessories required for the production process of commercial and 
industrial enterprises operating in the Indus trial and Trade Free Zone (ZOLIC) ............  4 
  
PROGRAMME I
 
 
1. Description  
 
 (a) Exemption from company tax on income  from the export of goods produced or 
assembled in Guatemala and exported under special customs regimes to 
non-Central American countries. 
  (b) Exemption from customs duties and other import taxes, including value-added 
tax (VAT), on imports of machinery, equipment, parts, components and accessories required for the production process. 
 2. Period of notification
 
 
 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010.  
3. Objective
 
 
 To promote, encourage and develop the produc tion in the national customs territory of goods 
for export outside the national territory.  
4. Background and authority
 
  Background
: 
  The Government of Guatemala considers th at appropriate conditions for encouraging 
investment of national and foreign capital need to  be promoted in order to reduce the high poverty 
levels stemming, inter alia , from the internal armed conflict, as well as to raise employment levels 
and improve the distribution of income. 
  Authority
: 
  Legislative Decree No. 29-89 of 23 May 1989 and amendments thereto.  G/SCM/N/211/GTM 
 Page 3 
 
 
   
5. Form of the subsidy  
 
 The subsidy takes the form of a tax exemption, but its effect is greatly reduced given the other 
national taxes payable. 
 
6. To whom and how the subsidy is provided  
 
 The subsidy is granted to companies by way of an exemption from company tax on income from the export of goods produced or assembled in  Guatemala and exported under special customs 
regimes outside national customs territory. 
  To be eligible for the programme, companies must be recognized by the Ministry of the 
Economy.  7. Subsidy per unit or, in cases where this is  not possible, the total or annual amount 
budgeted for this subsidy  
 
 Subsidies are granted in accordance with the ex porters' income;  they cannot therefore be 
quantified given that they vary each fiscal year.  8. Duration of the subsidy and/or any other time-limit which could affect it, including the 
date of inception/commencement  
 
 This subsidy programme is applicable for up to ten years.  9. Statistical data
 
 
 No such statistical information is available.  
PROGRAMME II
 
 
1. Description  
 
 (a) Exemption from company tax on income exclusively from the activities of managers 
and users of the Free Zone. 
 
 (b) Exemption from customs duties and other import taxes, including value-added 
tax (VAT), on imports of machinery, equipment, parts, components and accessories required for the production process. 
 
2. Period of notification
 
  1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010. 
 
3. Objective
 
 
 To promote and regulate the establishment in  Guatemala of Free Zones, the activities of 
which, in particular measures to boost foreign tr ade, create employment and stimulate technology 
transfer, serve to encourage national development.  G/SCM/N/211/GTM 
Page 4  
 
  4. Background and authority
 
 
 Background : 
  In an endeavour to encourage the development of regions which have been marginalized as a 
result of the internal armed conflict and to re duce poverty levels, a Free-Zone system has been 
established as an instrument to create employme nt, attract investment and encourage technology 
transfer.   Authority
: 
 
 Legislative Decree No. 65-89 of 14 November 1989.  
5. Form of the subsidy
 
  The subsidy takes the form of a tax exemption. 
 
6. To whom and how the subsidy is provided
 
 
 The beneficiaries of this incentive are the managers and users of Free Zones. 
 
 To enjoy these fiscal benefits, companies must be fully authorized by the Ministry of the 
Economy.  
7. Subsidy per unit or, in cases where this is  not possible, the total or annual amount 
budgeted for this subsidy  
 
 Subsidies are granted in accordance with the ex porters' income;  they cannot therefore be 
quantified given that they vary each fiscal year.  
8. Duration of the subsidy and/or any other time-limit which could affect it, including the 
date of inception/commencement  
 
 This subsidy programme is applicable for up to ten years.  
9. Statistical data
 
  No such statistical information is available. 
 
PROGRAMME III
 
 
1. Description  
  (a) The Industrial and Trade Free Zone (ZOL IC) operates in a non-customs area located 
within the perimeter established in the regul atory plan of the Santo Tomás de Castilla 
Port in the Department of Izabal, and in non-customs areas which can be fitted out for 
its public special economic development areas,  which may be located in any part of 
national territory. 
 
 (b) Users which are established and operate in the ZOLIC enjoy exemption from the 
following:  (1) 100 per cent of company tax for ten years, calculated as of the date on 
which the enterprise starts up operations in the ZOLIC;  (2) value-added tax, customs 
duties and other charges applicable to impor ts entering the ZOLIC;  (3) value-added  G/SCM/N/211/GTM 
 Page 5 
 
 
  tax on taxable actions and procedures carried out in the ZOLIC;  and (4) stamp tax on 
documents containing deeds or contracts relating to goods or business in the ZOLIC. 
  (c) Users are also exempt from the payment of import duties, value-added tax, taxes and 
other fiscal charges levied in relation to th e entry into and stay in the ZOLIC of all 
goods and other articles or negotiable instrume nts, raw materials, inputs, materials, 
semi-processed goods, intermediate goods , packaging and containers, as well as 
machinery, equipment, spare parts, accessories and other goods intended for 
industrial or commercial production activities or the provision of services. 
 2. Period of notification
 
 
 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010.  
3. Objective
 
 
 To promote industrial and commercial developm ent in Guatemala in order to create further 
sources of employment.  
4. Background and authority
 
  Background
: 
  Measure to encourage investment as a mechanism for promoting development.   Authority
: 
 
 Decree No. 22-73 of the Congress of the Repub lic of Guatemala of 21 March 1973 and the 
amendment thereto introduced by Decree No. 30-2008 of the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala, 
in effect as of 1 July 2008.  
5. Form of the subsidy
 
 
 The subsidy takes the form of a tax exemption.  
6. To whom and how the subsidy is provided
 
  The beneficiaries of these incentives are comme rcial and/or industrial enterprises operating 
under this special regime.  
7. Subsidy per unit or, in cases where this is  not possible, the total or annual amount 
budgeted for this subsidy  
  Subsidies are granted in accordance with the bene ficiaries' income;  they cannot therefore be 
quantified given that they vary each fiscal year.  
8. Duration of the subsidy and/or any other time-limit which could affect it, including the 
date of inception/commencement  
 
 Exemption from company tax is applicable fo r up to ten years.  ZOLIC operations, however, 
are unlimited in duration.  G/SCM/N/211/GTM 
Page 6  
 
  9. Statistical data
 
 
 No such statistical information is available.   G/SCM/N/211/GTM 
 Page 7 
 
 
  ACTION PLAN 
 
GUATEMALA 
 
 
 Guatemala hereby notifies its action plan pur suant to paragraph 1(f) of the General Council 
Decision of 31 July 2008 (WT/L/691), which contains  the "Procedures for Continuation of Extensions 
Pursuant to Article 27.4 of the SCM Agreement of the Transition Period Under Article 27.2(b) of the 
SCM Agreement for Certain Developing Country Members".  I. Description of subsidies 
 
 Guatemala notified three subsidy progra mmes which come under Article 27.4 of the 
SCM Agreement and have been subject to the pr ocedures for the continuation of extensions in 
accordance with document G/SCM/39 and, sub sequently, General Council Decision WT/L/691.
1 
 
 Not all of the subsidies granted under these program mes are prohibited.  In this regard and in 
the interests of transparency, the following table pr ovides a more detailed description of each subsidy 
and indicates which ones are prohibited and therefor e subject to elimination by 31 December 2015. 
 
 Decree No. 29-89 
Maquila (In-Bond Processing) Law  
                                                      
1 G/SCM/N/71;  G/SCM/ N/74;  G/SCM/N/177. Article Description of subsidy Prohibited 
subsidy 
Article 12 
Temporary 
admission 
regime Temporary suspension of the payment of customs duties and import taxes, 
including value-added tax (VAT), on raw materials, semi-finished products, 
intermediate products, materials, containers, packaging and labels necessary 
for the export or re-export of goods produced in the country, on the basis of the authorized lists contained in the decision on eligibility issued by the 
Ministry of the Economy. NO 
 Temporary suspension of the payment of customs duties and import taxes, 
including value-added tax (VAT), on sample books, engineering samples, 
instructional material, patterns and models needed for the production 
process or for demonstration, research and educational purposes. YES 
 Total exemption from company tax on income obtained or derived 
exclusively from the export of goods which have been processed or 
assembled in Guatemala and exported.  YES 
 Temporary suspension of customs duties and import taxes, including 
value-added tax (VAT), on machinery, equipment, parts, components and 
accessories required for th e production process and duly identified in the 
decision on eligibility by the Ministry of the Economy. YES 
 Total exemption from customs duties and import taxes, including 
value-added tax (VAT), on imported machinery, equipment, parts, components and accessories required fo r the production process and duly 
identified in the decision on eligibility by the Ministry of the Economy. YES 
 Total exemption from ordinary and/or extraordinary export taxes. YES G/SCM/N/211/GTM 
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  Article Description of subsidy Prohibited 
subsidy 
Companies owned by eligible natura l or legal persons shall receive 
reimbursement for customs duties, import taxes and value-added tax that 
they have paid on deposit to guarantee the entry of raw materials, 
semi-finished products, intermediate products, materials, containers, 
packaging and labels used in the production or assembly of exported goods. NO Article 13 
Drawback 
regime 
Total exemption from company tax on income obtained or derived 
exclusively from the export of goods th at have been processed or assembled 
in Guatemala and exported. YES 
 Total exemption from ordinary and/or extraordinary export taxes. YES 
Article 14 
Duty-free 
replacement 
regime Companies owned by natural or legal persons eligible under this law, which 
have used as inputs goods for which the corresponding customs duties and import taxes have been paid, and which have used such inputs to manufacture goods exported by third parties, shall be exempted from the 
equivalent of the duties and taxes paid. NO 
Total exemption from customs duties and import taxes, including 
value-added tax (VAT), on the import of machinery, equipment, parts, components and accessories required fo r the production process, and duly 
identified in the decision on eligibility of the Ministry of the Economy. YES 
Total exemption from company tax on income obtained or derived 
exclusively from the export of goods processed or assembled in Guatemala 
and exported. YES Article 15 
Added 
component 
regime for 
exports 
Total exemption from ordinary and/or extraordinary export taxes. YES 
 
Decree No. 65-89 
Law on Free Zones 
Article Description of subsidy Prohibited 
subsidy 
Article 21 
Free-zone 
administrative 
entities Total exemption from taxes, customs duties and charges applicable to the 
import of machinery, equipment, tools and materials intended exclusively 
for the construction of infrastructure, buildings and installations to be used 
for the development of the free zone, and duly identified in the decision on authorization for the establishment and development of the zone. NO 
 Total exemption from company tax on income derived exclusively from the 
activities of free-zone administrators.  Administrative entities domiciled abroad which operate in Guatemala shall not be accorded this exemption if 
their country of origin grants a tax credit for company tax paid in 
Guatemala. NO 
 Exemption from the single immovable property tax payable to the central 
Government for a period of five (5) years with respect to immovable property intended exclusively fo r the development of a free zone. NO 
 Exemption from the tax payable (sales tax) on the sale and exchange of 
immovable property intended excl usively for the development and 
expansion of the free zone. NO 
 Exemption from the stamp duty payable on documents used for the transfer 
to the administrative entity of ownership of immovable assets intended for the development and expansion of the free zone. NO  G/SCM/N/211/GTM 
 Page 9 
 
 
  Article Description of subsidy Prohibited 
subsidy 
 Full exemption from taxes, customs duties and other charges applicable to 
the importation and consumption of fuel oil, bunker oil, butane gas and 
propane that are strictly necessary for the generation of electrical power 
used for operational activities and service provision by free-zone users, as 
from the date on which the operation of the free zone was authorized. NO 
Exemption from taxes, customs duties and charges applicable to imports 
into the free zone of machinery, equipment, tools, raw materials, inputs, 
semi-processed products, containers, packaging, components and any 
merchandise used for the production of goods and the provision of services. NO2 
Total exemption from company tax on income derived exclusively from the 
activities of free-zone industrial or servi ce users.  Industrial or service users 
domiciled abroad which operate in Guatemala shall not be eligible for this exemption if their country of origin grants a tax credit for the company tax 
payable in Guatemala. YES
 3 
Exemption from value-added tax on transfers of goods within and between 
free zones. NO 
Exemption from the tax payable (sales tax) on the sale and exchange of 
fixed assets located in the free zone by  means of transactions carried out in 
conjunction with the administrative entity or with users of the zone. NO Article 22 
Industrial or 
service users 
Exemption from the stamp duty payable on documents used for the transfer 
of ownership of fixed assets located within the free zone. NO 
Article 23 
Commercial 
users Exemption from taxes, customs duties and charges applicable in general 
terms to the importation into the free zone of goods or components warehoused in the free zone for marketing purposes. NO 
 Exemption from company tax on income derived exclusively from the 
activities of commercial users of the free zone.  Commercial users domiciled abroad which operate in Guatemala shall not benefit from this 
exemption if their country of origin grants a tax credit for the company tax 
payable in Guatemala. NO 
 Exemption from value-added tax on transfers of goods carried out within 
and between free zones. NO 
 Exemption from the tax payable (sales tax) on the sale and exchange of 
fixed assets located in the free zone by  means of transactions carried out in 
conjunction with the administrative entity or with users of the zone. NO 
 Exemption from the stamp duty payable on documents used for the transfer 
of the ownership of fixed assets located within the free zone. NO 
Article 24 For the purposes of Articles 21, 22 and 23(b), dividends or profits 
distributed both by administrative entities and by free-zone users to natural or legal persons domiciled in Guatemala shall also be considered as 
tax-exempt income. NO
4 
                                                      
2 Except for the exemption from taxes on equipment, machinery and tools. 
3 Except for the exemption fr om taxes for service users. 
4 Except for the exemption from  taxes for industrial users. G/SCM/N/211/GTM 
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  Article Description of subsidy Prohibited 
subsidy 
Industrial users which set up under the free-zone regime may export up to a maximum of twenty per cent (20%) of their total output to the national 
customs territory, subject to prior au thorization by the Industrial Policy 
Directorate, which shall no tify the Directorate-General of Customs.  In such 
cases, each sale may involve no less th an the domestic-currency equivalent 
of five thousand United States dollars (US$5,000) and only one consignee in the national customs territory.  Products exported under this provision 
shall be subject, upon entry into the national customs territory, to the 
definitive import regime governing good s from countries outside the Central 
American area. NO 
Article 25 
The industrial users referred to in  the preceding paragraph shall not be 
eligible for the benefit granted under Article 22(b) in respect of income derived from the export of the goods in question to the national customs 
territory. NO 
Article 26 In order to determine the share of company tax exempted under 
Article 22(b), industrial users which export to the national customs territory 
shall proportionally distribute the tax applicable to their activities as a whole 
between the gross income from their exports and re-exports as industrial 
users and the gross income derived from their other activities. The 
proportion corresponding to the former shall be the tax for which exemption 
is granted and that corresponding to the latter shall be the tax payable. NO 
Article 27 Foreigners who work for free-zone administrative entities and users may 
stay and work in Guatemala in acco rdance with the pr ovisions of the 
Migration Law and the Labour Code. NO 
Article 44 Machinery, equipment, parts, components and accessories which are 
imported under this Law for use by the administrative entity or the users of 
free zones, may not be disposed of or assigned a purpose different from the 
one for which they were authorized in the decision of the Ministry of the Economy. NO 
 
Amendments to Decree No. 22-73 
Basic Law establishing the Industr ial and Trade Free Zone (ZOLIC) 
Article Description of subsidy Prohibited 
subsidy 
Exemption from 100 per cent of company tax for 10 years. YES Article 32 
Users Exemption from value-added tax, customs duties and other charges 
applicable to imports entering the free zone. NO 
 Exemption from value-added tax on taxable actions and procedures carried 
out in the free zone. NO 
 Exemption from stamp tax on documents containing deeds or contracts 
relating to goods or business in the free zone. NO 
 The State, through the Executive Branch, decentra lized entities, free zones 
or municipal authorities, shall be free to grant non-tax incentives to certain 
users in order to secure investment for Guatemala  which has a beneficial 
impact on its inhabitants. NO  G/SCM/N/211/GTM 
 Page 11 
 
 
  Article Description of subsidy Prohibited 
subsidy 
Article 32 bis All goods and other articles or negotiable instruments, raw materials, inputs, 
materials, semi-processed goods, intermediate goods, packaging and 
containers, as well as machinery, equipment, spare parts, accessories and 
other goods intended for activities referred to in Article 4 of this Law, 
which enter the free zone are exempt from the payment of import duties, 
value-added tax, taxes and other fiscal charges levied in relation to their entry into and the period during which they remain in the free zone. NO
5 
Article 36 The goods listed in Article 32 bis of this Law, as well as goods 
manufactured, produced, processed, assembled, diluted, blended, equipped, packaged, installed, refined, purified or remodelled in the free zone, may be 
used for the following: 
a. Export; 
b. import; 
c. supply of other public special  economic development areas and 
free ports within the country;  or 
d. legally established free zones and general bonded warehouses or 
any other special tax treatment areas. NO
6 
 
II. Description of internal procedures for passing legislation 
 
 The three subsidy programmes were duly a pproved by the Congress of the Republic of 
Guatemala.  Any amendment thereto or the abroga tion thereof therefore requires the approval of a 
legislative decree.  The process for formulating an d adopting laws in Guatemala, in accordance with 
the Political Constitution of the Republic, is described below. 
 
 Initiation of legislation 
 
 In accordance with the Political Constitution of the Republic of Guatemala, the deputies to the 
Congress of the Republic, the Executive Branch, the S upreme Court of Justice, the University of 
San Carlos of Guatemala and the Supreme Electora l Tribunal have the right to initiate legislation 
(Article 174 of the Political Constitutio n of the Republic of Guatemala). 
 
 Introduction and discussion 
  After a draft law has been introduced, the pr ocedure laid down in th e Legislative Branch 
Organization and Rules of Procedure Act is followed.   The draft law is discussed at three meetings 
held on different days and may not be put to the vot e until it is considered to have been sufficiently 
discussed at the third meeting.  This does not apply to cases where Congress declares approval of the legislation to be a matter of national emergency by  a favourable vote of two-thirds of its deputies 
(Article 176 of the Political Constitutio n of the Republic of Guatemala). 
 
 Approval, adoption and promulgation 
 
 Once a draft law has been approved, th e Executive Committee of the Congress of the 
Republic must submit it, within not more than ten days, to the Executive Branch for adoption, 
promulgation and publication (Artic le 177 of the Political Constitution of the Republic of Guatemala). 
                                                     
 
5 Except for the exemption from ta xes on machinery, equipment, sp are parts, accessories and other 
goods which are not consumed in the production of the exported product. 
6 Except for cases which could involve a subsidy contingent 'in fact' upon export performance.  Such 
cases will also be subject to review by the Guatemalan Government. G/SCM/N/211/GTM 
Page 12  
 
   
 Veto 
 
 Within 15 days of receipt of the decree and on the basis of a decision by the Council of Ministers, the President of the Republic may return  the decree to the Congress with such observations 
as he deems appropriate in the exercise of his right of  veto.  Laws may not be vetoed in part.  If the 
Executive Branch does not return th e decree within 15 days following the date of its receipt, it is 
deemed to have been adopted and the Congress must promulgate it as a law within the next 
eight days.  If the Congress closes its session before the expiry of the period in  which the veto may be 
exercised, the Executive Bran ch must return the decree within the first eight days of the next session 
of ordinary meetings (Article 178 of the Politi cal Constitution of the Republic of Guatemala). 
 
 Primacy of the legislature  
 
 If a decree is returned to the Congress, the Ex ecutive Committee is required to inform it of the 
situation at the next plenary meeting and the Congre ss may, within a period of not more than 30 days, 
reconsider the decree or reject it.  If the reasons given for the veto are not accepted and the Congress 
rejects the veto by a majority of two-thirds of its  members, the Executive Branch is required to adopt 
the decree and to promulgate it within eight days of  its receipt.  If the Executive Branch does not do 
so, the Executive Committee of the Congress must order its publication within a period of not more than three days and it will be effective as a la w of the Republic (Article 179 of the Political 
Constitution of the Republic of Guatemala). 
 
 Entry into force 
 
 The law enters into force throughout the nationa l territory eight days after its publication in 
the Official Journal, unless the law itself extends or abridges this period or the territorial scope of 
application (Article 181 of the Political C onstitution of the Republic of Guatemala). 
 
III. Description of action taken to date 
 
 In the framework of Guatemala's obligations under the General Council Decision, the 
following action has been taken to date: 
 
Action Date 
Notification by the Ministry of the Economy to beneficiaries of special 
regimes in Guatemala. December 2009 
Collection of information on subsidies. 1 January 2008 
to 
31 December 2009 
A regional seminar and a national seminar organized in Guatemala City by WTO Secretariat officials in relation to Decision WT/L/691 and the obligations of beneficiary Member countries under the Agreement on 
Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. 26 to 29 May 2009 
Creation of an inter-institutional group, the aim of which is to provide 
follow-up on the WTO seminar and support with dismantling the programmes. 29 May 2009 
Creation of a technical group to develop the action plan for the elimination of 
prohibited subsidies. 5 April 2010  G/SCM/N/211/GTM 
 Page 13 
 
 
  Action Date 
Development of the action plan. 5 April 2010 
to 
23 June 2010 
Presentation of the action plan to the inter-institutional group. 24 June 2010 
 
IV. Description of future action 
 
 With a view to the elimination of prohi bited subsidies pursuant to the Agreement on 
Subsidies and Countervailing Measures and Gene ral Council Decision WT/L/691, Guatemala has 
established the following work programme: 
 
Action Date 
Analysis by the working group of the Ministry of the Economy of the 
amendments required to national legislation in order to eliminate prohibited subsidies.  This analysis will include identifying viable options for Guatemala 
as regards subsidies.  The recommendations of this group must: 
• Be consistent with Guat emala's WTO commitments; 
• achieve the objectives established in  Guatemala's integrated foreign 
trade policy; 
• take into account the fiscal needs of the government; 
• address the country's eco nomic growth needs; 
• take into consideration trends in respect of incentives in other 
countries to attract domestic and foreign investment. 1 July 2010 
to 
30 June 2011 
Recruitment of a subsidies expert. 
• Review and validation of the work of the Ministry of the Economy's 
working group; 
• talks with other government sector institutions, chambers of 
commerce, trade associations and unions and users of the special 
regimes; 
• development of a proposal with alternative incentives consistent with 
commitments under the WTO. 16 January 2011 
to 
30 June 2011 
Discussion and validation by the inter-institutional group of the work of both 
the Ministry of the Economy and the subsidies expert.  A document reflecting the outcome of the discussions will be submitted at the end of the period.  All input from the inter-institutional group will be taken into consideration. 1 July 2011 
to 
31 December 2011 
Preparation of the required draft laws.  On the basis of the outcome of the discussions of the inter-institutional group, the Ministry of the Economy will prepare and present the corresponding draft laws for consideration by the 
relevant bodies.  The Ministry of the Economy will also publish and lobby for 
the draft laws at national level. 1 January 2012 
to 
30 June 2012 
Legislative procedure for th e approval of the new regulations.  The Ministry of 
the Economy will be responsible for th e necessary follow-up in the Congress 
of the Republic to ensure that the relevant legislation is approved. 1 July 2012 
to 
30 June 2014 
Notification of the new legislation to the World Trade Organization. 1 July 2014 
to 
31 December 2014 G/SCM/N/211/GTM 
Page 14  
 
   
 The time-frames set forth in this section are est imates which seek to provide guidance for the 
work required to eliminate the prohibited subsidi es before the expiry of the transition period. 
  As can be seen, Guatemala expects to comp lete this work in advance of the final 
two-year period provided for in Article 27.4 of  the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing 
Measures.  This will afford a certain amount of leew ay in the event of a delay beyond the control of 
Guatemala's Ministry of the Economy.  
__________