Colombia Still Charging Tariffs on Footwear and Textiles

Ignoring the rulings from the WTO in favor of Panama, the South American country has extended charge of the 10% tariff until November.

Monday, August 1, 2016

Even though the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled in favor of Panama and ordered Colombia to stop charging the tariff, the government has extended until November 2016 a decree from March establishing a charge ".. ad valorem of a 10% tariff plus a specific tariff of $5 per gross kilo of textiles and footwear. "

"... The new president of the business association of the CFZ, Usha Mayani, is not surprised that Colombia has taken the decision to extend the measure, as it is understood to be 'a delaying tactic' used by this country against Panama over the last decade. But the biggest concern, she continues, is that while Panama is evaluating what retaliatory measures it can apply, Colombia is acting and defending its own interests: "it's a very big disappointment for private enterprise in the CFZ'".

Prensa.com reports that "... figures estimated by the CFZ administration warn that the impact of the Colombian measured from March 2013 to date is approximately $350 million ($325 million in footwear and about $25 million in textiles)."

¿Busca soluciones de inteligencia comercial para su empresa?



More on this topic

Doubts Over Continuity of Colombian Tariffs

November 2016

An end has been reached to the additional time period requested by Colombia to continue charging the 10% tariff on textiles and footwear coming from the Colon Free Zone, but it is not known whether they will continue to implement the measure.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled in favor of Panama and ordered Colombia to stop charging the tariff, but despite this, the South American country extended the measure until November. 

Colombia Delays Elimination of Tariffs for CFZ

July 2016

For now, Colombia will not comply with the WTO ruling in favor of Panama in the conflict over tariffs on imports of footwear and textiles coming from Panama.

The conflict, which has affected the performance of the Free Trade Zone for more than two years still has no end in sight. Colombia expressed its intention to delay compliance with the ruling that forces the elimination of the mixed tariff,   "... Requesting an additional, unspecified, period in which to comply with the recommendations in the ruling in favor of Panama."

Panama: Colombia Maintains Special Tariff Collection

April 2016

An extension has been granted, until July 30, on the charging of a tariff imposed by Colombia on footwear, textiles and clothing coming from the Colon Free Zone.  

Colombia's decision to extend the collection of mixed tariffs on imports of footwear, textiles and clothing from the Colon Free Zone until 30 July, has caused opposition among Panamanian businessmen.

Panama: Problems with Colombian Tariffs Again

January 2016

The government of Colombia has announced it will appeal over the WTO ruling in favor of Panama in the conflict over the imposition of mixed tariffs on imported textiles and shoes from the Central American country.

On 27 November, the WTO ruling confirmed that the measures taken by Colombia, in establishing mixed tariffs on textiles and footwear, violate the country's commitments to the organization.

ok