Avianca Expansion: Avianca says it will boost midyear peak connectivity with 71,000+ flights and 12.5M seats across 160+ routes, including seasonal service from Guatemala City to Chicago and San Francisco. Apparel & CAFTA-DR Sourcing: Guatemala’s 20th Apparel Sourcing Show spotlights sustainability and new production capabilities for regional textile and garment makers tied to CAFTA-DR. Manufacturing Push: Hansae Co. reports stronger Q2 results and plans a restructuring centered on its Guatemala production base as it ramps vertical integration. Environmental Enforcement: Guatemala’s Environment Ministry annulled 27 environmental licenses and filed 208 complaints over environmental crimes, citing faster reviews and tighter permit control. Trade Pressure Over Forced Labor: In Washington, USTR hearings begin on forced-labor tariff plans that could add 10% or 12.5% duties for goods from 60 countries. Aid Payments Tech: UNDP expands its Stellar blockchain partnership after pilots in Haiti, Syria, Kenya, and Guatemala cut aid distribution costs (reported from 10% to 2%) and improved resilience during outages. Agriculture Biosecurity: A new study warns screwworm control could fail if governments ignore illegal cattle movements and wildlife/remote-area surveillance in Mesoamerica. Diplomacy for Trade Links: Guatemala’s Congress president begins a first official visit to Taiwan, reaffirming cross-party support for the relationship.