Colombia's Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Diana Marcela Morales Rojas, rejected Ecuador's trade measures and announced that the country will raise tariffs on imports from Ecuador to 100%. The move responds to Ecuador's announced increase of its tariff on Colombian products to 100%, citing border security issues. Business leaders from both nations called for presidential dialogue to avert economic harm.
Minister Diana Marcela Morales Rojas issued a strong rejection of measures by Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa's government, which raised tariffs on Colombian products from 30% or 50% to 100%, citing insufficient Colombian action against narcotrafficking and crime on the shared border.
"From President Petro's Government, we have exhausted all diplomatic efforts and kept dialogue channels open with the Ecuadorian Government," Morales stated. Lacking a positive response, Colombia will amend Decree 170 to match the 100% tariff, with the proposal going immediately to the Comité de Asuntos Aduaneros, Arancelarios y de Comercio Exterior (Triple A).
Colombia has filed a complaint with the Comunidad Andina (CAN) for violation of the 1969 Cartagena Agreement. The government will also promote relief measures for businesses, including favorable credit lines to sustain employment and economic reactivation.
Business leaders from both sides, including Andi's Bruce Mac Master and Ecuador's Chamber of Industries' María Paz Jervis, urged presidential dialogue. "International trade is not the arena for solutions," Mac Master said, noting bilateral trade exceeds US$250 million monthly and has grown 174-fold over 60 years.
