Colombia and Ecuador resume electricity sales and rice exports

Colombia has reinstated the commercial sale of electricity to Ecuador after a six‑month suspension. Minister of Mines and Energy Edwin Palma confirmed that a resolution authorising the private‑sector electricity transactions (Transacciones Internacionales de Energía) entered into force on 22 July 2026 and that exports of up to 450 MW could begin in the coming days. The suspension, which started on 22 January 2026, followed reciprocal tariffs imposed by both governments during a diplomatic dispute. Palma stressed that “energy cannot be held hostage by political differences” and highlighted the importance of the arrangement ahead of the expected El Niño‑driven dry season in Ecuador.

At the same time, Ecuador has secured a deal to export 30 000 tonnes of milled rice to Colombia. The Ministry of Production, Commerce, Foreign Trade and Investments announced that shipments will start on 25 July 2026 through the Rumichaca border crossing, ending a 45‑day restriction that had halted the flow of Ecuadorian rice. The agreement is presented as a signal of normalising bilateral trade and aims to revive market access for Ecuadorian producers while providing supply to Colombia.

Both measures reflect a broader effort by the two neighbours to restore key trade links – energy and agricultural – that were disrupted by earlier tariff and security disputes, with the cooperation framed as essential for regional stability and food‑security during climatic challenges.