Andean Bloc Orders Colombia and Ecuador to Lift Tariffs
The Andean bloc ordered Colombia and Ecuador to lift trade curbs within ten days. The ruling follows a dispute involving tariffs of up to 100 percent.
The Andean Community trade bloc ordered Colombia and Ecuador to remove all restrictive trade measures late on Thursday. The ruling demands the withdrawal of reciprocal tariff hikes that reached 100% on some goods. This intervention aims to stabilize regional trade flows after weeks of escalating bilateral tensions.
### Tariff Escalation Triggers Bloc Intervention The multilateral body gave both nations 10 business days to dismantle their current trade barriers. Earlier this year, Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa imposed tariffs on Colombian imports, including electricity and medicines. He then raised tariffs to 100% on May 1, citing a wide trade deficit and arguing that Colombia failed to combat drug trafficking along their shared 586-km border.
