Ecuador declared on Tuesday that beginning February 1, it will enforce a 30% tariff on all imports from Colombia, a move tied to border security cooperation that could put pressure on bilateral trade and regional energy exchanges.
Ecuador President Daniel Noboa said the levy, described as a security tax, is being introduced due to what he sees as insufficient collaboration from Colombia in tackling drug trafficking and illegal mining along the shared border.
Noboa presented the tariff decision as a reaction to persistent security challenges and ongoing diplomatic strains. Even as Ecuador faces an annual trade deficit exceeding $1 billion, its armed forces remain engaged in combating criminal groups along the border.
Noboa emphasized that the new import duty will stay in effect until Colombia shows genuine cooperation in tackling drug trafficking networks and illegal mining activities.
According to data from the Central Bank of Ecuador, between January and November of last year, the country imported $1.717 billion worth of goods from Colombia while exporting $805 million in goods, resulting in a trade deficit.
Key imports from Colombia include plastic and related products, vehicles and auto parts, as well as pharmaceutical, chemical, and cosmetic items.
Meanwhile, figures from the Ecuadorian Federation of Exporters indicate that as of 2024, Colombia ranked as the fifth-largest market for Ecuador’s exports, which include wood panels, vegetable oils and fats, canned tuna, minerals, and electrical equipment.
Both Ecuador and Colombia belong to the Andean Community of Nations (CAN), along with Bolivia and Peru, and the decision will face review within that regional framework.
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