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– LexLatin
The new article published by LexLatin, where you can read the interview to Andrea Moya, our partner and leader of the tax area of the firm, discusses investments in Ecuador: implications of the Law of Economic Development and Fiscal Sustainability.
Objective of the Law of Economic Development and Fiscal Sustainability
Moya explains that the main objective of this Law, which is the only project of the Lasso administration that is in force, is to provide the State with additional resources with which to reduce the fiscal deficit and organize public finances. She adds that “temporary wealth taxes were established, a tax regime was created to regularize assets abroad, the income tax that will affect the highest income earners was increased (…) and certain elements of the same tax were simplified. These elements include the elimination of tax incentives for investments in basic industries, prioritized sectors and public-private alliances that had been created in previous years”.
What are the main challenges of the Law of Economic Development and Fiscal Sustainability, considering that we still have to deal with the pandemic?
Our partner answers this question by placing special emphasis on the fact that “it is important to distinguish the medium- and long-term objectives proposed by the Law, such as the organization of public finances in the face of current issues such as the pandemic”. To this she adds that the reduction of the fiscal deficit, ”is expected to boost the economy with the creation of quality employment, which is the greatest need of Ecuador”.
What are the main regulatory changes in customs and foreign trade that are implemented with this Law?
For Moya, the key is the exclusion of the value of freight for the calculation of customs duties. This was done to reduce its impact on the cost of imported goods and to curb the effect of the significant increase in freight rates in the world market. In addition, this Law, “includes reforms to reduce the time of administrative processes in charge of the Customs Authority, implement technological systems for customs control and the implementation of advance consultations to provide security to the importer on the treatment that will be given to the goods.
In this same area, the Government is negotiating several trade agreements with the objective of facilitating access to international markets for exports.