USAID Central America Regional Trade Facilitation and Border Management Program (TFB)

Nathan Associates, Inc. is part of Cadmus. Original publication date: July 25, 2018.

Nathan is implementing the Central America Regional Trade Facilitation and Border Management Program (TFB), a five-year activity (2018–2023) that builds on the progress, relationships, and momentum established under USAID’s two predecessor programs, implemented by Nathan: the Regional Trade and Market Alliances program (RTMA), and the Regional Trade Facilitation Expansion Activity (RTFE).

By enhancing economic integration in Central America, with an emphasis on the Northern Triangle (NT) and supporting implementation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), Nathan and the TFB Project are supporting regional authorities and the NT countries (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) to improve regional trade efficiency at primary ports of entry and key economic corridors, reducing the time and cost of trading across borders, and achieving greater trade competitiveness in the region.

TFB works closely with key border agencies, including Customs Agencies, Ministries of Trade and Sanitary Regulatory Agencies in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. The Project also works in close collaboration with the Central American Economic Integration Secretariat (SIECA) and, by extension, its governing body the Council of Ministers of Economic Integration (COMIECO). Further, the project engages with the private sector, as transparency and dialogue between the public and private sector is critical to achieving buy-in and targeted results. It is strengthening the capabilities of the National Trade Facilitation Committees (NTFCs) in each country while also working directly with other trade and logistics related public stakeholders, such as port authorities, and other private sector stakeholders, namely truckers and logistics providers, importers and exporters, and port terminal operators.

TFB is supporting USAID’s overall efforts to facilitate economic growth and stability in the NT and to support the integration strategy of the Central American governments. As such, TFB also works closely with other USAID regional and bilateral programs, particularly those focused on private-sector development, which have access to medium and small enterprises, and other international technical assistance organizations.