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“Our worst trading partner in the world, in percentage terms, is
Colombia,” Noboa said, noting that Ecuador's trade deficit with
its neighbor has reached $1.1 billion.
The tensions started in January, when the Ecuadorian president —
a conservative who has sought to deepen ties with the Trump
administration — announced a 30% tariff on Colombian imports,
citing concerns that Bogota has failed to sufficiently curb the
flow of cocaine across their shared border.
Colombia countered by imposing 30% tariffs on dozens of
Ecuadorian goods — including rice and car parts — and saying it
would stop selling electricity to Ecuador.
On Thursday, Noboa doubled down and said the tariffs on
Colombian goods would increase from 30% to 50%, arguing, again,
that Colombia has not yet taken concrete actions to control
security on the binational border. The new tariffs will go into
effect on March 1.
Colombian officials have repeatedly dismissed the accusations,
noting that under the administration of Colombian President
Gustavo Petro there have been record numbers of cocaine
seizures. However, production continues to hit all-time highs,
driven by increased lab efficiency and a surge in cultivated
hectares.
Colombian and Ecuadorian merchants and business organizations
have protested the escalating war, warning that the levies will
hurt the economy of both nations.
“At least 40,000 Ecuadorian jobs are at risk because of this
situation,” the Ecuadorian Federation of Exporters warned late
Thursday in a statement. It noted that Colombia remains the
fifth largest market for Ecuador’s non-oil exports — accounting
for an estimated $65 million in monthly trade — and urged both
nations to engage in “an urgent dialogue at the highest level.”
Noboa has given no indication that a meeting to resolve the
crisis is in the works.
“We have spoken with Colombia for the last two years, and they
have never fulfilled their commitments,” he said Friday.
Colombia’s Trade Minister Diana Marcela Morales told Blu Radio
on Friday that the country is evaluating a plan to increase
tariffs to 50% on 73 Ecuadorian products already subject to a
30% rate.
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