LIBRARY
Trade Intelligence and Thought Leadership
Applied intelligence drawn from operational experience — calibrated for trade professionals, CPG executives, and investors.
Cornerstone Publications — Updated 2026
★ NEW — TARIFF INTELLIGENCE
The CAFTA-DR Corridor Under Tariff Pressure: Why the Duty-Free Advantage Has Never Been Greater
Priority publication for the current tariff environment. Covers the Liberation Day tariff shock, the Supreme Court IEEPA ruling (February 20, 2026), Section 122 replacement surcharge and its July 24, 2026 expiration, the 0–10% effective duty on CAFTA-DR food (0% exempt ag, 10% processed food) versus 35–42%+ for China, the Annex II agricultural exemptions (coffee, tropical fruits, cocoa, spices), bilateral deal landscape (El Salvador January 2026, Guatemala, Honduras gap), and the strategic implications for US brands and Central American producers. The authoritative guide to the current tariff environment.
CAFTA-DR
The CAFTA-DR Opportunity: A Complete Guide to Duty-Free Food Trade in the Americas
Updated for 2026. Covers tariff elimination schedules (January 2025 full implementation at 95.9% of tariff lines), CAFTA-DR rules of origin for food products, customs procedures, sanitary and phytosanitary provisions, country-by-country market access profiles, and practical guidance for US exporters and Central American producers. Updated to reflect the Section 122 surcharge framework and bilateral deal developments.
NEARSHORING
Nearshoring the Food Supply Chain: Why Honduras Is the Next Manufacturing Frontier
Updated for 2026. Covers nearshoring economics for food production, Honduras’s infrastructure and investment environment (ZOLI free trade zone; updated FDI data from Central Bank of Honduras), political transition to the pro-US Asfura government, free trade zone structure and incentives, comparison with Asian and Mexican manufacturing alternatives on tariff-adjusted landed cost, and case-based analysis of nearshored food production outcomes. Informed by JSTP’s direct manufacturing experience.
FDA COMPLIANCE
FDA Import Compliance 2026: A Practical Guide for Central American Food Exporters
Updated for 2025–2026 regulatory changes. Covers FSVP requirements and documentation (with common violation patterns from 2025–2026 FDA warning letters), facility registration, prior notice procedures, FDA Centralized Entry Review (August 2025) preparation, labeling and packaging compliance, common causes of FDA import detention, FSMA 204 traceability preparation (July 2028 deadline), and a compliance readiness self-assessment framework. Essential reading for any Central American producer seeking US market access.
PRIVATE LABEL
Private Label Economics 2026: Central American Manufacturing for US Retail Margins
Updated for the record $282.8B private label market. Covers landed-cost modeling (production + freight + duties + carrying cost), margin analysis versus domestic US and Asian production alternatives in the current tariff environment, quality system requirements for US retail, timeline benchmarks from concept to shelf, scalability considerations, and 2026 tariff differential analysis. Designed for retail private label procurement directors.
MARKET INTELLIGENCE
The Central American Consumer: Market Intelligence for Seven-Country Portfolio Strategy
A market-by-market analysis of consumer food and beverage trends across the JSTP corridor. Covers demographic and income trends, retail format evolution, category growth rates, competitive landscape, distribution infrastructure, and regulatory environment across the United States, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Designed for US brand managers evaluating Central American market entry.
Inside the Facility
Continuous-Line Production. Company-Owned. FDA-Registered.
See our manufacturing operation in Honduras from raw ingredient intake through packaging, quality assurance, and export-ready palletization.