Las Relaciones Entre el Comercio y el Desarrollo Sostenible en la Agricultura de Centroamérica

The document analyzes the intersection of trade, agriculture, and sustainable development in Central America. It highlights a growing trade deficit driven by commercial openness and a reliance on low-value generic exports. Environmentally, the region faces significant water and air pollution due to the intensification of agrochemicals and livestock production. The report argues that while Central American countries have significant room under WTO rules to implement 'Green Box' support measures for sustainable agriculture, they currently lack the fiscal resources and institutional coordination to do so effectively.

• Central American agriculture is segmented by actor capacity, with small producers often limited to low-quality lands and local markets, while transnational companies dominate banana and pineapple production. Technological dynamism is highest in sectors where technology is imported from outside the region, whereas sectors relying on public sector technology, such as basic grains and livestock, have seen declining productivity and growth rates.
• The region is a net importer with a trade balance index of approximately 0.5, meaning imports exceed exports by about 50%. Trade deficits have widened since 1996 due to commercial openness policies and falling international prices for agricultural products. Projections for 2010 suggest imports will grow to $70 billion (a 218% increase) while exports will reach $31 billion (a 180% increase).
• Agricultural production in the region has caused significant environmental degradation, primarily through the intensification of fertilizers and agrochemicals which contaminate water sources. Poultry and pig farming, along with ornamental plant cultivation, create concentrated pollution in air and groundwater, particularly near urban areas. Compliance with environmental regulations is generally low due to a lack of environmental awareness.
• Central American countries have significant unused capacity to provide agricultural support under WTO rules, specifically 'Green Box' measures which are non-distorting. While Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Guatemala provided the most aid in the late 1990s, their spending is negligible compared to developed nations. 'Amber Box' supports were largely abandoned due to high fiscal costs and poor resource management.
• The region faces complex challenges in trade negotiations (WTO-Doha, CAFTA, and ALCA), where environmental standards may be used as non-tariff barriers. The report recommends negotiating preferential treatment and special quotas for 'sustainable' products—defined as those that are environmentally friendly and produced under dignified human conditions without child or slave labor.

APA

Pomareda, C., & Murillo, C. (2003). Las Relaciones Entre el Comercio y el Desarrollo Sostenible en la Agricultura de Centroamérica. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/tkn_trade_sd_agi_sum_es.pdf

Chicago

Pomareda, Carlos, and Carlos Murillo. Las Relaciones Entre el Comercio y el Desarrollo Sostenible en la Agricultura de Centroamérica. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2003. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/tkn_trade_sd_agi_sum_es.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Pomareda |first1=Carlos |last2=Murillo |first2=Carlos |title=Las Relaciones Entre el Comercio y el Desarrollo Sostenible en la Agricultura de Centroamérica |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=August 2003 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/tkn_trade_sd_agi_sum_es.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{pomareda2003las, author = {Pomareda, Carlos and Murillo, Carlos}, title = {{Las Relaciones Entre el Comercio y el Desarrollo Sostenible en la Agricultura de Centroamérica}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2003}, month = aug, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/tkn_trade_sd_agi_sum_es.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }