Colombia’s recent extension, by four months, of a series of import tariffs on textiles and footwear from Panama’s Colon Free Zone, has been denounced by Panama’s Minister of the Economy and Finance, Dulcidio De la Guardia, as a move to protect Colombian business interests from Panamanian competition.
“They are clearly reacting to protect their industrial and textile sector, and the delay on lifting the decree is a reflection of the lobbying by businessmen who don’t want to face competition from the Colón Free Zone” said the official.
Colombia has extended to November the imposition of a 10% import tariff to all textiles and footwear coming from Colón, as well as a $5 dollar container charge, applied since 2012. Colombia’s government has rejected claims of market protectionism, claiming the tariffs and charges are meant to combat contraband and money laundering. The claim has been rejected by Panama, which maintains the Colombian government’s move is motivated by local business interests.
Full Content: El Espectador
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
Uruguayan Antitrust Scrutiny Puts Major Meatpacking Deal Between Marfrig and Minerva on Hold
May 19, 2024 by
CPI
Alaska Airlines Seeks Dismissal of Consumer Lawsuit Over $1.9 Billion Hawaiian Airlines Buy
May 19, 2024 by
CPI
Idaho Attorney General Orders Split of Kootenai Health and Syringa Hospital
May 19, 2024 by
CPI
Court Rejects T-Mobile’s Appeal Bid in Antitrust Case Over Sprint Merger
May 19, 2024 by
CPI
Google Requests Judge, Not Jury, to Decide on Antitrust Case
May 19, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Ecosystems
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Mapping Antitrust onto Digital Ecosystems
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Ecosystems and Competition Law: A Law and Political Economy Approach
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Ecosystem Theories of Harm: What is Beyond the Buzzword?
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Open Ecosystems: Benefits, Challenges, and Implications for Antitrust
May 9, 2024 by
CPI