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World March 2, 2026

Colombia Publishes Draft to Raise Tariffs on Ecuadorian Imports to 50%

Government frames measure as reciprocal action under the Cartagena Agreement after Quito announced higher duties amid border security grievances

By Ajmal Hussain
Colombia Publishes Draft to Raise Tariffs on Ecuadorian Imports to 50%

Colombia's trade ministry issued a draft decree raising duties on roughly 300 Ecuadorian products from 30% to 50%, in response to Ecuador's announcement that it will increase tariffs on Colombian goods to 50% starting March 1. Bogotá cites provisions of the Cartagena Agreement as legal justification and says Quito's move violates the bloc's tariff liberalization rules. The decree includes estimates that bilateral trade flows would drop sharply if the tariffs remain in place, based on 2025 data.

Key Points

  • Colombia's trade ministry issued a draft decree to raise tariffs on around 300 Ecuadorian goods from 30% to 50%.
  • Bogotá says the measure is reciprocal to Ecuador's move to increase tariffs to 50% starting March 1 and invokes Article 73 of the Cartagena Agreement as legal authority; it argues Ecuador's tariff violates Article 72, which requires tariff liberalization among member states.
  • Colombian estimates based on 2025 data indicate imports from Ecuador could drop 75% ($640 million) and Colombian exports to Ecuador could fall 79% ($1.452 billion). Economic sectors tied to cross-border trade and logistics are likely to be affected.

Colombia's trade ministry on Monday published a draft decree that would lift import duties on about 300 goods from Ecuador to 50% from the current 30% rate. The document frames the measure as a direct response to Ecuador's recent decision to raise tariffs on imports from Colombia to 50% starting March 1.

According to the decree, Quito's announced increase of duties followed its assessment that Colombia had not implemented effective measures to curb insecurity on its side of the shared border. Ecuador's explanation for the higher tariffs is presented in the Colombian text as the triggering action prompting reciprocal steps from Bogotá.

Colombian authorities point to Article 73 of the Cartagena Agreement - the founding treaty of the Andean Community - as the legal basis for the proposed reciprocal tariffs. The draft decree asserts that the tariff imposed by Ecuador constitutes a breach of Article 72, which establishes a liberalization program intended to eliminate duties among member countries of the trade bloc.

The decree states that Ecuador's 50% tariff makes Colombian exports to that country economically unviable. Drawing on 2025 trade figures, the Colombian government estimates that its imports of Ecuadorian products would fall by 75%, equivalent to $640 million, if the higher tariffs take effect. It further estimates a 79% decline in Colombian exports to Ecuador, equivalent to $1.452 billion.

The draft decree references earlier measures taken by Ecuador: the imposition of a 30% tariff on Colombian imports on January 21, 2026, and restrictions on border crossings that began on December 24, 2025. Both Colombia and Ecuador are members of the Andean Community, established under the Cartagena Agreement.

The publication of the draft marks a formal step in Bogotá's response to Quito's tariff actions. The decree presents the change as grounded in the trade bloc's legal framework and quantifies the potential reduction in bilateral trade flows based on 2025 data.

Risks

  • Escalation of reciprocal tariffs may sharply reduce bilateral trade volumes, posing risks to exporters, importers, and transport and logistics firms operating between the two countries.
  • The decree frames the dispute within the Cartagena Agreement, but a legal disagreement over Articles 72 and 73 could prolong uncertainty for businesses dependent on cross-border supply chains.
  • Restrictions on border crossings, previously enacted by Ecuador, combined with higher duties risk further disrupting commerce in border regions and industries reliant on cross-border flows.

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