Ecuador readies CAN response on Colombia border tariff dispute

Ecuador’s government said it will submit an official document to the Community Andina (CAN) before the organization’s May 21 deadline, defending the “security fee” imposed on Colombian products at the northern border. Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld indicated the response will be delivered within one to two days, arguing that the measure has sufficient justification under Ecuadorian law.

CAN has ordered the removal of reciprocal tariffs, stating they breach the Cartagena Agreement and hinder regional trade. Ecuador insists it will act through the proper legal channels. Colombian President Gustavo Petro has expressed willingness to lift tariffs on Ecuadorian goods, emphasizing that the fees were a diplomatic reaction to Ecuador’s decision, not an intent to penalise trade.

The dispute has severely affected the logistics sector in Ecuador’s Carchi province, where about a thousand workers in customs, transport and warehousing have lost income as cross‑border commerce stalled. Traders and transporters in the frontier cities of Tulcán (Ecuador) and Ipiales (Colombia) fear continued economic damage and a rise in smuggling, while hoping a quick resolution will revive small‑business activity and restore the flow of goods.