Brussels, 19 September 2014 

Press release

On 18 September 2014, Guatemala deposited with the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization its instrument of accession to the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (Harmonized System).

Considering that more than 98 % of international merchandise trade is classified in terms of the Harmonized System, the World Customs Organization is pleased to welcome Guatemala as the 151st Contracting Party to the Harmonized System Convention and looks forward to its active participation with respect to Harmonized System matters. Guatemala has been a Member of the World Customs Organization since 22 February 1985.

Guatemala is located in Central America, flanked by the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico, and, by the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean Sea), between Honduras and Belize. Its main export commodities are coffee, sugar, petroleum, clothing, bananas, fruit and vegetables, and cardamom. The country’s main import commodities are fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, grain, fertilizers, electricity, mineral products, chemical products and plastic materials and products.