Guatemala Member profile
No notifications submitted by Guatemala
Trade policy review
Latest Trade Policy Review (Report by the WTO Secretariat): WT/TPR/S/348/Rev.1
A. Import prohibitions and restrictions and import licensing
3.49.
Guatemala imposes certain prohibitions on imports for reasons of health, security or public order. In 2004, Guatemala replied to the questionnaire on import licensing procedures and updated its notification concerning its import licensing regime.[98] In this notification Guatemala indicated that there are no differences in procedures for particular trading partners and there are no exceptions to licensing requirements under bilateral or regional agreements. By April 2016, the authorities had not forwarded any new notification to the WTO. During the course of this Review, the authorities indicated that they were in the process of updating replies to the questionnaire on import licensing procedures.
3.50.
Guatemala has notified the WTO that import licences are not required as such, but the import of certain products is subject to special administrative formalities, including the granting of prior import permits, as laid down in various laws and regulations.[99] The list of products requiring prior import permits and the legal basis therefor are set out in Table 3.10. In order to import these products, the importer must first register with the competent administrative unit. In addition, sanitary or phytosanitary permits are required for a certain number of products.
B. Export prohibitions and restrictions
3.101.
Guatemala does not allow the export of certain goods for reasons of security, protection of the environment and conservation of the cultural heritage.
3.102.
It is not permitted to fell trees or export wood of protected species or those at risk of extinction. Protected species are those determined jointly by the National Forestry Institute (INAB) and CONAP, as well as those listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), ratified by Guatemala in 1979. Timber in logs of more than 11 cm. in diameter may not be exported, unless as part of furniture or an item with value added or comes from sustainable plantations authorized by the INAB.[120] Violation of this ban is punishable by a fine and a term of imprisonment.
3.103.
The General Law on fishing and aquaculture of 2002 bans the export of eggs, larvae, post‑larvae, hatchlings, juvenile fish and breeding animals from the natural environment, except for those produced in laboratories or by artificial means duly authorized by law. The Constitution forbids the export of paleontological, archaeological, historical and artistic goods and assets that form part of Guatemala's national heritage.
3.104.
Government Decision No. 1‑2010 issued the provisions regulating the export of metal waste and scrap, setting maximum quotas in terms of tonnes for the export of such products.
WTO's environmental database (EDB)
The EDB contains environment-related measures that may qualify as QRs and therefore should be notified under the QR Decision.