Colombia has removed tariffs on almost all products from Ecuador, effectively ending a four‑month trade dispute that began when Ecuador imposed a so-called “security fee” on Colombian imports last January, Gonzalo Gutiérrez, secretary general of the Andean Community of Nations (CAN), announced on Tuesday from Quito.

The only remaining tariff applies to rice‑related products and will stay in place for 45 days. Gutiérrez called the development “very good news,” stressing that both countries have returned to their Andean obligation to apply trade liberalization, which constitutes a cornerstone of the regional bloc.

He rejected the term “trade war,” calling it instead a “difference of opinion” over security.

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The dispute began in January when Noboa announced a “security fee” on imports from Colombia, claiming insufficient action by Colombian President Gustavo Petro against drug trafficking and cross‑border crime.

The fee started at 30% in February, rose to 50%, and reached 100% by May. Colombia retaliated with tariffs of 30% on various products, later raising some to 75% and imposing other trade measures.

Gutiérrez noted that the CAN does not have a mandate to address the fees collected during the four‑month standoff, but confirmed that six appeals filed before the CAN are still under review, with rulings pending. He also reminded that the CAN has been developing a two‑year anti‑crime program that requires coordinated joint action.

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