Former Guatemalan vice minister slams US tariffs as violation of regional free trade deal

The unilateral imposition of "reciprocal tariffs" by the United States violates its free trade agreement with the Central American countries, and will harm the regional and its own economy, a former Guatemalan vice minister said in a recent interview with the China Global Television Network (CGTN).

Amid growing international concern, U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order introducing a 10-percent "minimum baseline tariff" on all imports, with higher rates for selected nations. The administration claimed the tariffs would level the playing field for American businesses.

"The tariff policy of the United States goes against all rules-based international trade norms. We [the Central American countries] have signed a free trade agreement with the United States, but it has violated this agreement," said Enrique Lacs, former vice minister of economy of Guatemala.

In May 2004, five Central American countries, namely Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, signed a free trade agreement with the United States. In August of the same year, the Dominican Republic also signed a free trade agreement with the United States.

According to data from the Central American Monetary Council, the United States was the largest trading partner of Central America and the Dominican Republic in 2024, with 33.7 percent of the region's imports coming from the United States and 39.5 percent of the region's exports destined for the United States. The former vice minster pointed out that the tariff policy not only affects the economies of other countries and regions, but also brings backlash to U.S. economic development.

"This tariff policy of the United States will not bring short-term benefits, it will only increase consumer costs in its domestic market," he said.

Former Guatemalan vice minister slams US tariffs as violation of regional free trade deal

Oman's role in facilitating "volatile" indirect talks between Iran and the United States is to build trust between the two sides, said Omani political analysts.

Iran and the United States are set to hold a second round of talks on April 19, following what both sides described as a "constructive" first round in the Omani capital Muscat on Saturday.

The talks, which lasted two and a half hours, marked a rare thaw in a long-frozen relationship fraught with sanctions, military brinkmanship and regional rivalries.

The talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff centered on Tehran's nuclear issue and sanctions relief, said the Iranian Foreign Ministry in a statement.

Oman's foreign minister mediated the talks and said they were held in "a friendly environment".

"I think the biggest challenge is building trust between the two parties. That's the role Oman and Oman's diplomacy will focus on," said Mohamed Al Araimi, Omani political researcher and author and chairman of the Oman Journalists Association.

Ahead of the talks, U.S. President Donald Trump gave Tehran a two-month deadline to reach a new nuclear agreement. He also threatened to attack Iran if the talks fail.

"These talks are very volatile. There have been escalations and clear threats from the United States. These threats may not help the negotiations. And Iran is a military power. It has plans for its nuclear program. And that's why the U.S. is now back to negotiating with Iran in Muscat. The U.S. is realizing Iran's strength, and that it has become essential to reach an agreement which can restrict Iran's ability to weaponize its nuclear power," said Khamis Al Qutaiti, Omani political analyst.

Building trust remains biggest challenge in Iran-US indirect nuclear talks: Omani experts