The presidents of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, and Peru, Ollanta Humala, agreed on Tuesday to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) in November, or at least no later than December.
Both leaders held a private bilateral meeting within the framework of the 69th General Assembly of the United Nations (UN).
The topics covered during the meeting dealt with trade, mining and Honduras' aspiration to become a full member of the Pacific Alliance, currently formed by Peru, Mexico, Colombia and Chile.
In 2013, the trade balance between both countries was unfavourable to Honduras, with a negative balance of $ 184,301 million.
Between 2010 and 2013, Honduran exports to Peru totalled 32.919 million dollars, while imports of goods amounted to $ 428.280 million, for a deficit of $ 395.361 in the last three years. The main items exported by Peru to Honduras include mineral products (51.79%), plastics and rubber (14%) and food products (14.31%).
For its part, Honduran exports to Peru consist of food products (43%), minerals (16.62%), and vegetable products (14%).
Negotiations for the trade agreement resumed on 4 August and the next round of negotiations is scheduled for the first and second week of October in San Pedro Sula.
The signing of the trade agreement is key to the aspirations of Honduras to join as a full member of the Pacific Alliance, in view that it needs an FTA in place with all the founding members of the initiative (Chile, Mexico, Colombia and Peru).
The FTA is an opportunity
After the meeting, Humala said: "We truly identify with Honduras, and this free trade agreement, which we expect to sign this year, is an opportunity for the people of both countries."
As for the specific areas covered by the FTA with Peru, the Honduran President highlighted tourism, mining and agri-food trade as the most important.
Source: laprensa.hn
