Trade and Commercial Law Assessments (TLCA) of the CAFTA Countries

USAID Economic Growth Technical Assistance in the Region

USAID’s trade capacity-building (TCB) efforts in Central America have focused on supporting more open trade and investment policies and regional economic integration. A key part of TCB efforts has been in assisting Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua in preparing for and implementing the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). In April 2004, USAID conducted Trade and Commercial Law Assessments in each country to help them take advantage of the benefits of free trade and enhance the possibilities of regional trade and harmonization. Visit the Country Assessments page to read the assessment reports for these countries.

As the culmination of the assessments, a Central American regional report was prepared (in both English in Spanish). The report, entitled Strategies for Improving the Efficiency of Trade Flows and Strengthening the Business Climate in the CAFTA Countries, synthesizes the findings of the individual country reports and makes recommendations for regional, coordinated reform. 

Promoting Regional Trade Growth

The TCLA uses a common set of development indicators to:

• Conduct quick, yet relatively detailed, analyses of areas of international trade systems and commercial law and their associated institutions

• Obtain a better understanding of constraints that hamper growth within countries and throughout the region

• Make intra-regional and subject matter comparisons of international trade and commercial legal frameworks and associated institutions

• Identify trade capacity needs and establish program- and project-level priorities

• Benchmark and evaluate progress toward an international trade and business-friendly legal and regulatory environment