Customs bloc speeds regional apparel trade

The expansion of the Central American customs union into a three-way bloc with El Salvador and Honduras joining Guatemala and Honduras to forge a border trading zone of 32 million people has been welcomed by the garment and textile industries.

The main benefit is delivery times. A common tax and border crossing has been digitalized.

"With technology, young people and the internet, the buyer now expects merchandise to arrive in 24 hours,"  Honduran business leader Jesús Canahuati told the just-style website.