The Americas

Central America opens for business

The countries of the poorest region on the American continent are at long last learning how to co-operate

|SAN JOSE

SHIPPING goods across borders in Central America has long been a nightmare. Corruption and paperwork were obstacles enough; often, neighbouring countries did not even bother to keep adjacent customs houses open at the same time. This did not matter much a decade ago, when the main trade was the clandestine shipment of arms to fuel civil wars. But today, with the region at last at peace, legitimate commerce is booming. And leaders of Central American countries are getting their customs services to work together.

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