The World Customs Organization (WCO) provided support to the Guatemala Tax and Customs Authority under the WCO Mercator Programme Tailor-made Track, 22 – 26 January 2018. The WCO team successfully conducted a scoping mission and provided recommended actions to effectively implement trade facilitation measures, taking into consideration local conditions and environment, as well as the WCO instruments and tools.

Prior to the in-field mission in Guatemala, the experts received a series of documents, which were fundamental for the development of the mission.  During the mission, the WCO team met with officials from the Superintendence of Tax Administration (SAT), Ministry of Economy, National Committee on Trade Facilitation, and other stakeholders, including representatives of the private sector. The discussions were crucial to carry out an analysis of the current situation in relation to the implementation of the articles in Section I of the TFA. The WCO team also visited the Airport/COMBEX, loading / import / export / and courier units.

The recommendations were classified by priority, timing, and responsible entity and discussed with SAT officials. The results obtained (roadmap and actions related to the implementation of the TFA) were presented to senior officials of the Ministry of Finance and SAT.

The WCO will continue to support the Guatemalan Customs modernization program and the successful implementation of the TFA.