The Trade Policy Review Mechanism, a permanent feature of the World Trade Organization (WTO), is designed to contribute to improving adherence by all WTO members to rules, disciplines, and commitments made under the Multilateral Trade Agreement. This volume in the series provides information on the trade policies, practices, and macroeconomic situations of Guatemala. Each Trade Policy Review is expertly prepared after in-depth analysis of an individual nation by the WTOs Trade Policy Review Board.

The book provides trade policy review for Guatamala in 2009.

“Trade Policy Reviews” analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat, a report by the government, and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO's Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - “key trade facts” - provides a visual overview of the WTO member's major exports/imports, main export destinations, origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Guatemala.

The trade policies and practices of all World Trade Organization members are subject to periodic review in order to monitor significant trends and developments which may have an impact on the global trading system. The reviews are conducted on the basis of a policy statement by the Member under review and a comprehensive report drawn up by the WTO Secretariat. This first review of Guatemala, the largest economy in Central America, recognises its active participation in the multilateral trading system and the efforts undertaken to improve its economic and social conditions. It notes the challenges that lie ahead and supports initiatives designed to further sustainable economic growth and social development.

The book provides trade policy review for Guatamala in 2009.

This report reviews the different policies that bear an impact on FDI in Guatemala, with a view to recommending concrete policy actions to improve the country's attractiveness and the benefits from FDI throughout the economy and in relation with the strategy sectors identified by the Government. Guatemala is one of the countries in Latin America with the longest FDI attraction record. However, a long internal conflict that lasted for a good part of its contemporary history took a heavy toll on economic and social development and slowed both foreign and domestic investment. The signing of the Peace Accords in 1996 marked the beginning of a new epoch, characterised by renewed macro-economic stability, opening to trade and investment and an unprecedented rise in FDI inflows. Nonetheless, widespread poverty and inequitable income distribution, low education levels and high crime rates continue to hamper the country's social and economic development and prevent Guatemala from realising its full FDI attraction potential.

Monitoring the trade policies and practices of members is a fundamentally important activity of the World Trade Organization. All WTO members are reviewed at regular intervals, according to their share of world trade. Each Trade Policy Review consists of three parts: a report by the government under review, a report written independently by the WTO Secretariat, and the concluding remarks by the chair of the Trade Policy Review Body. A highlights section provides an overview of key trade facts.