Nicaragua - Import Tariffs Nicaragua - Import Tariffs
As a member of the Central American Common Market (CACM), Nicaragua applies a harmonized external tariff on most items at a maximum of 15%, with some exceptions. Approximately 95% of tariff lines are harmonized among Central American countries at this rate or lower. In response to rising prices in 2007, Nicaragua issued a series of decrees to unilaterally eliminate or reduce to 5% tariffs on many basic foodstuffs and consumer goods. These decrees have been extended every six months. They remained in effect as of 2017, and are likely to be extended thereafter. The Nicaraguan Customs Authority maintains an online database of import tariffs, including tariffs applicable under the Central America – Dominican Republic – United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR).
Under CAFTA-DR, 100% of U.S. consumer and industrial goods enter Nicaragua duty free. More than half of U.S. agricultural exports now enter Nicaragua duty free thanks to CAFTA-DR. Nicaragua will eliminate its remaining tariffs on nearly all agricultural goods by 2024, including those on pork, rice, and yellow corn. Nicaragua will eliminate its tariffs on chicken leg quarters and rice by 2023 and on dairy products by 2025. For certain products, such as poultry leg quarters, tariff rate quotas (TRQs) allow duty free access for increasing quantities as tariffs are phased out. Nicaragua will liberalize trade in white corn through expansion of a TRQ, but there is no tariff phase out.