Marco Belmonte / Digital Page Seven
The National Chamber of Customs Brokers (CNDA) projects that this year Bolivian exports will close at 10,500 million dollars with growth explained only by value.
The president of the CNDA, Antonio Rocha, when conducting a management evaluation, explained that global commodity price inflation raises the value of world trade (24%) to twice that of volume (12%) .
The WTO estimates that by the end of 2021 the increase in world trade volume will be consolidated by 10.5%.
Rocha pointed out that in Bolivia until the end of 2021 it is estimated that exports will reach 10,500 million dollars while imports could reach 9,000 million.
In this way, external sales would grow by 50% and purchases by 29%, with a trade surplus close to 1,500 million dollars.
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He explained that the impact of the prices of agricultural raw materials and minerals on exports is decisive.
While the value is estimated to grow by 50%, the volume will only grow by 10%, this implies that it is not that we export much more, but rather that we take advantage of the global inflation of raw materials ”, he pointed out.
According to the CND, a measure contrary to multilateral regulations is related to the prohibition or restriction of exports.
These measures establish export quotas for products such as sugar, oil and oilseed meal, and beef, all of which are produced in surplus in Bolivia.
In the oilseed sector, the entire domestic demand is covered with 30% of production.
He added that most of the exports of the aforementioned products are conditional on “certificates of domestic supply at a fair price”, a mechanism that obliges the producer to sell their products in a subsidized manner in the domestic market in order to keep inflation low.
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According to Rocha, the institutional framework and transparency in government bodies related to foreign trade are key elements of trade facilitation, both in the dissemination of regulations and in the socialization and consensus before they are put into effect. In particular, the standards issued by Senasag, Agemed, General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics, Ibmetro, ABT.
He added that the Ministry of Economy and National Customs should make every effort so that the national tariff is updated with all the requirements and regulations required by each tariff heading, in addition to providing the proper alert in the SUMA customs system.
The CNDA requested the inclusion of the private sector in the National Committee for Trade Facilitation and asked to review the results and effects of the current tariff policy and the increase in market access costs and its impact on investments in the case of goods capital affected by ICE, in addition to its impact on the increase in informal trade.
Smuggling
Rocha recognized the efforts of the National Customs and the Vice Ministry of Fight Against Smuggling that have allowed the seizure of nearly 100 million dollars, which represents the highest value retained in the last 10 years of illicit merchandise.
However, he said that this is insufficient since most estimates of smuggling in Bolivia, made by private entities, account for a proportion close to 20% of formal imports.
This can be seen in the informal markets for contraband products and in the 250,000 undocumented vehicles that exist in the country.
“It is estimated that the annual smuggling of merchandise ranges between 1,500 and 1,800 million dollars, which represents a tax sacrifice in customs income of about 450 million dollars annually,” he remarked.
The sectors most affected by smuggling are the agri-food sector (flour, corn, wheat, seeds), the industrial manufacturing sector (beverages, clothing, footwear, furniture, furniture) and the commerce sector (vehicles, parts and pieces, electronics, white goods ).
For the CNDA, the increase in formality and the reduction of smuggling largely involves eliminating non-tariff restrictions and import costs (prior authorizations, sanitary premises prior to shipment, including prohibitions camouflaged in sanitary requirements (sugar, grain of soybeans, transgenic seeds).
Regulations and procedures must also be established to facilitate electronic commerce and the clearance of smaller amounts, ensuring its transparency regarding the minimum declared value and therefore the application of the franchise or the corresponding taxes.
It is also essential, according to Rocha, that a reform of the General Customs Law be promoted in accordance with the era of digitization of customs documents and procedures and the Ecomerce. (MB).
