CAFTA-DR provides market access for U.S. consumer, industrial and agricultural products, improving U.S. competitiveness against third country suppliers and helping expand U.S. exports overall. The agreement requires important reforms of the domestic legal and business environment, which are still ongoing, as well as transparency and efficiency in administering customs procedures, including CAFTA rules of origin.
Honduras did not negotiate any tariff rate quotas when it became a member of the WTO. It does, however, have limitations on imports of rice and white corn to protect local production. For additional information about tariffs under CAFTA-DR please refer to the Customs Info Database tariff look-up tool available on trade.gov
On March 6, 2023, The Government of Honduras (GOH) published new procedures for importing rice and poultry, with no advanced notification, comment period, or phase-in period. The procedures require importers to register on an annual basis, a process which typically involves many steps and time. After the registration process is completed, importers must apply for an import permit for each shipment, which also involves several more steps under an opaque and bureaucratic process that results in additional delays. These regulations are causing confusion, delays, and additional port fees for U.S. exporters and their customers. To avoid potential delays and demurrage costs at Port, the Foreign Agricultural Service based at the US Embassy in Tegucigalpa advises that all exporters file their import documents at least 1 month in advance.
In addition to agricultural products, Honduras maintains some non-tariff barriers for services. Currently, special government authorization must be obtained to invest in the tourism and banking service sectors. Under CAFTA-DR, Honduras allows substantial market access in services across its entire services regime, subject to a few exceptions in the licensed professions. Honduran professional associations heavily regulate the licensing of foreigners to practice law, medicine, engineering, accounting, and other professions requiring certification and industry-specific licensing. For more information on service and investment barriers, please read the annual National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers, found under the Reports and Publications section of the Press Office.
For more information and help with trade barriers, please contact:
International Trade Administration
Trade Enforcement and Compliance
https://www.commerce.gov/issues/trade-enforcement
Phone: (202) 482-0063
Email: ECCommunications@trade.gov