Central America flexes muscles in apparel production

The repudiation by the United States last January of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership should increase the appeal of Central American apparel production.

American importers had expected the TPP to reduce the cost of imports from several Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia and Vietnam, which currently face duties of as much as 32 percent.

Meanwhile, qualifying apparel products made in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua pay no duty when imported into the United States.

Source: Q Costa Rica