Colombia Complies with CAN Tribunal’s Free Trade Agreements on Rice, Sanctions Lifted

After a prolonged process spanning over 13 years, the Tribunal of Justice of the Andean Community (CAN) has ruled that Colombia is in compliance with CAN’s rice free trade agreements and has ordered the lifting of sanctions that were imposed in November 2022. The punitive measures had authorized CAN member countries to temporarily impose an additional tariff of up to 10% on imports of up to 10 freely chosen goods originating from Colombia. The judicial session, held on October 10 in Quito, Ecuador, resulted in a ruling that recognized Colombia’s absence of restrictions on cereal imports from partner countries, citing not only the political will of the nation’s authorities but also the implementation of specific corrective measures. While the country has faced prior sanctions, this decision marks a significant success in the multilateral management of trade and agriculture coordination between Colombia and CAN. Despite the nuances in regional rice production and export due to factors like El Niño, Colombia emphasizes its commitment to strengthen regional ties and resolve common issues through integrated mechanisms like CAN and platforms like Mercosur and the Pacific Alliance.