   
  
WT/REG422/2  
 
12 September  2023 
(23-6065) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements  Original: English /Spanish  
 
ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND CENTRAL AMERICA 
(COSTA RICA, EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, NICARAGUA AND PANAMA) , 
(GOODS  AND SERVICES ) 
QUESTIONS AND REPLIES  
The following communication, dated 11 September  2023, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegations of  the United Kingdom, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua  and 
Panama.  
 
_______________  
 
 
Question s from the European Union  
 
Intellectual property rights  
 
1.1.  Can it be confirmed that the ONLY GIs (geographical indications)  protected from 
Central American countries under this RTA are the two listed below from Nicaragua , 
meaning all other Central American countries have none of their GIs protected on the UK 
market?  
Referenced part for the above question is available from the Factual Presentation . See 
Paragraph  5.35 and the modification to Annex XVII which refers to Café de Nicaragua a nd 
Queso Chontaleño as the two protected GIs.  
Joint response from the Parties  
 
 There are currently no Nicaraguan GIs protected under the UK -Central America Agreement. 
The geographical indications (GIs) listed in Annex XVII as amended reflect the geographical 
indications of interest to Nicaragua so that they could  subsequently be processed according to the 
applicable protection procedures of the United Kingdom. Central A merican countries have protected 
under the Association Agreement with the United Kingdom, the geographical indications that were 
listed in Decision number 5 /2014 signed in the framework of the European Union -Central America 
Association, which means that  the GIs already protected under that decision were incorporated as 
part of the Agreement with the United Kingdom.  
PART B  
GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS OF THE REPUBLICS OF THE CENTRAL AMERICAN PARTY 
PROTECTED IN THE EU PARTY IN ACCORDANCE WITH TITLE VI (INTELLECT UAL PROPERTY)  
OF PART IV OF THIS AGREEMENT  
COUNTRY  NAME  PRODUCTS  
COSTA RICA  Café de Costa Rica  Coffee  
COSTA RICA  Banano de Costa Rica  Bananas  
EL SALVADOR  Café de Apaneca -Ilamapetec  Coffee  
EL SALVADOR  Bálsamo de El Salvador  Balm 
GUATEMALA  Café Antigua  Coffee  
GUATEMALA  Ron de Guatemala  Spirits  WT/REG422/2  
 
- 2 - 
 
  COUNTRY  NAME  PRODUCTS  
HONDURAS  Cafés del occidente hondureño (H W C)  Coffee  
HONDURAS  Café de Marcala  Coffee  
PANAMÁ  Seco de Panamá  Spirits  
 
1.2.  Is the reading/understanding correct that the only three GIs from the UK protected 
in all six Central American countries are "Scotch Whisky " (as stipulated in the rolled -over 
parts of the EU -CentAm Association Agreement) as well as under the specific condi tions 
outlined below "Irish Cream " and "Irish Whiskey/Uisce Beathe Eireannach/Irish 
Whisky "? 
Referenced part for the above question is available from the text of the Agreement  
published on the UK Website. See paragraphs 27 (Modifications to Annex XVII) and 28 
(Modificatio ns to Annex XVIII).  
Joint response from the Parties  
 
 It is confirmed that the UK GIs mentioned are the ones that are protected in Central American 
countries.  
Question from Canada  
 
Financial services  
 
1.3.  Paragraph 4.119 states: The disciplines and definitions on financial services in 
Section E of Part IV, Title III, Chapter 5 of the Incorporated Agreement build upon those 
of the GATS and its Annex on Financial Services. In particular, it extends to Central 
American Parties, some of the provisions in cluded in the Uruguay Round GATS 
Understanding (applying to the UK but not the Central American Parties) including for 
new financial services and data processing of financial information.  
 Can a member restrict the transfers of financial  information toward s another 
member? If so, what conditions apply?  
Joint response from the Parties  
 The UK -Central America agreement replicates the commitments in the EU -Central America 
agreement.  
 
 The UK -Central America agreement contains commitments concerning New Financi al Services 
(Article 197) and Data Processing (Article 198).  
 
 The provision relates to transfers for processing purposes, there is no indication in the 
provision that countries are waiving their right to regulate the conditions for transfers, such as 
applying protection of personal data or there may be restrictions on the transfer of information 
between regulatory authorities, which are not disciplined by Article 198.  There will also be differences 
regarding the internal regulatory framework of each countr y.  
 
__________  