Bogota, Colombia – Ecuador will impose a 100% tariff on all Colombian imports from May 1, according to a statement issued today by the Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade and Investment.
The move heightens tensions between the two South American neighbors, who have imposed mutual tariffs of 50% in a trade war that began in January when Ecuador announced it would impose a “security fee” on Colombia.
“This measure is based on national security standards and is intended to strengthen our shared responsibility for the work we must do together to address drug trafficking at our borders,” read a statement from the Department of Trade announcing the tariff increase on Thursday.
Bogotá and Quito have clashed in recent months over border security, with Ecuadorian President Daniel Novoa accusing him of failing to curb criminal groups operating in the region.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro defended his administration’s security record and called for a reciprocal levy on Ecuador.
The two countries were scheduled to hold talks to resolve the trade war next week, but they were canceled yesterday due to a dispute over former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glass. Quito recalled its ambassador to Bogotá after Petro suggested Glass was a political prisoner and had not been treated humanely in prison.
Tariffs threaten economic impact on both sides of the border. Ecuador imports pharmaceuticals, sugar, cars, and coffee from Colombia, and exports wood panels, canned fish, frozen seafood, palm oil, and rice.
Featured image caption: Colombia-Ecuador border taken in 2020.
Featured Image Credit: Burkhard Mücke via Wikimedia Commons
