OAS

 
Central America Countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua) - Mexico
Text of the agreement
  Background and Negotiations
   

In June 2008, on the occasion of the 10th Tuxtla Mechanism Summit, the Heads of State and Government agreed to initiate negotiations aimed at achieving convergence in a single instrument for Free Trade Agreements between Mexico and Central American countries.

On 26 March 2009, the Vice ministers of Foreign Trade of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Mexico agreed on an action plan for the convergence of their free trade agreements. Moreover, the Central American governments engaged to start negotiations to create a single regional agreement with Mexico which would be ready by 2010. 

The free trade agreements between Mexico and Central America are: 1) Mexico-Costa Rica FTA, in force since 1 January 2005, 2) Mexico-Nicaragua FTA, in force since 1 July 1998, and 3) Mexico-El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, in force since 15 March 2001.

The first round of negotiations for the standardization and convergence of the existing free trade agreements between Central American countries and Mexico took place in May 2010, in Mexico City. The second round was held in August, in San Salvador City, El Salvador. The third round took place on 27-30 September 2010, in Mexico City. The fourth round was held from 31 January to 04 February 2011 in Guatemala, and the fifth round of negotiations took place in May 2011, in Mexico City. The sixth round of negotiations was held in San Salvador City, El Salvador on 15-19 August 2011. The seventh round took place on 19-23 September and the next meeting is scheduled to take place on September 27-28, in Antigua, Guatemala. On October 20th, 2011, the participating countries concluded technical negotiations for the convergence of what will eventually be the Single Free Trade Agreement between Central America and Mexico. The Single FTA was signed on November 22nd, 2011.

Documents relating to the negotiations
22 November 2011

San Salvador, El Salvador. Central American Countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua) and Mexico sign FTA converging existing FTAs between the countries Spanish PDF

20 October 2011 San Salvador, El Salvador. Conclusion of technical negotiations for the standardization and convergence of existing FTAs between Central American Countries and Mexico Spanish PDF
19-23 September 2011 Mexico. Seventh round of negotiations for the standardization and convergence of the free trade agreements currently in force between Central American Countries and Mexico Spanish PDF
15-19 August 2011 San Salvador, El Salvador. Sixth round of negotiations for the standardization and convergence of the free trade agreements currently in force between Central American Countries and Mexico Spanish PDF 
29 May 2011 Mexico City, Mexico. Fifth round of negotiations for the standardization and convergence of the free trade agreements currently in force between Central American Countries and Mexico Spanish PDF 
31 January- 04 February 2011 Guatemala. Fourth round of negotiations for the standardization and convergence of the free trade agreements currently in force between Central American Countries and Mexico Spanish PDF
27-30 September 2010 Mexico City, Mexico. Third round of negotiations for the standardization and convergence of the free trade agreements currently in force between Central American Countries and Mexico Spanish PDF
09-11 August 2010 San Salvador, El Salvador. Second round of negotiations for the standardization and convergence of the free trade agreements currently in force between Central American Countries and Mexico Spanish PDF 
17-20 November 2009 Meeting aimed at advancing on the negotiating process for achieving convergence of the FTAs between Mexico and Central American Countries Spanish PDF 
26 March 2009 Mexico and Central American Countries look for convergence and harmonization of the free trade agreements Spanish PDF
28 June 2008 Declaration of Villahermosa MS Word MS Word
Source: Ministerio de Comercio Exterior de Costa Rica (COMEX); Presidencia de la República, México; Secretaría de Economía de México

  Entry into Force
 

 

Mexican Senate approves agreement between Mexico and Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua on 15 December 2011. On January 9, 2012, the Government of Mexico issued a decree approving the free trade agreement with Central American countries. On 30 November 2012, the Government of Mexico announced the entry into force of the Mexico-Central America FTA with Honduras. On 01 July 2013 the FTA between Costa Rica and Mexico entered into force. Two months later, the agreement came into force between Guatemala and Mexico.

Documents relating to the entry into force
01 September 2013 FTA between Guatemala and Mexico enters into force Spanish
01 July 2013 FTA between Costa Rica and Mexico enters into force Spanish
21 June 2013 FTA between Costa Rica and Mexico to become effective on 01 July 2013 Spanish
01 January 2013 Mexico-Central America Free Trade Agreement entered into force for Honduras Spanish
20 December 2012 Costa Rica’s National Assembly approves -on first debate- Free Trade Agreement between Mexico and Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua Spanish
09 January 2012 Government of Mexico issues decree approving free trade agreement with Central American countries Spanish PDF
15 December 2011

Mexican Senate approves Central American Countries-Mexico FTA Spanish PDF

Source: Secretaría de Economía de México

 

  Implementation of the Agreement
 

 


Documents related to the Free Trade Commission
10 December 2021

Fourth meeting of the Free Trade Commission Spanish PDF New!

29 August 2019

Third meeting of the Free Trade Commission Spanish PDF

06 September 2017

Decision No. 9 of the Administrative Commission enters into force Spanish PDF

26 February 2017

Second meeting of the Free Trade Commission Spanish PDF

Source: Gobierno de México; Ministerio de Economía, El Salvador

 

Decisions of the Free Trade Commission:

24 January 2017

Decision No. 11 – Indicative list of panelists from non-party States Spanish PDF

24 January 2017

Decision No. 10 – Indicative list of national panelists Spanish PDF

24 January 2017

Decision No. 9 – Uniform regulations of the free trade agreement Spanish PDF

24 January 2017

Decision No. 8 – Specific rules of origin (5th amendment) Spanish PDF

24 January 2017

Decision No. 7 – Establishment of the Committee on Cross-Border Trade on Services and Investment Spanish PDF

03 October 2014

Decision No. 6 – Rules and procedures of the administrative commission Spanish PDF

03 October 2014

Decision No. 5 – Rules of procedure and code of conduct (Chapter 17) Spanish PDF

01 September 2013

Decision No. 4 – Adoption of Decision No. 1 by Guatemala Spanish PDF

01 July 2013

Decision No. 3 – Adoption of Decision No. 1 by Costa Rica Spanish PDF

01 January 2013

Decision No. 2 – Adoption of Decision No. 1 by Honduras Spanish PDF

01 September 2012

Decision No. 1 – Operating regulations and certificates and declarations of origin (Applies to Costa Rica) Spanish PDF

01 September 2012

Decision No. 1 – Operating regulations and certificates and declarations of origin Spanish PDF

 

  Related Articles and Studies
 

 

 

September 2016 Ministerio de Economía, Guatemala. Evaluación de las relaciones comerciales entre Guatemala y México Spanish
August 2015 Ministerio de Economía, Guatemala. Evaluación de las relaciones comerciales entre Guatemala y México Spanish
August 2014 Ministerio de Economía, Guatemala. Evaluación de las relaciones comerciales entre Guatemala y México Spanish

 

  Sources
   
 

Spanish version 
Recent Developments
  10 December 2021. Fourth meeting of the Free Trade Commission New!

Contents
 
   

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