Analdex le exigió a Gustavo Petro levantar aranceles a productos ecuatorianos en medio de batalla con Noboa: “Estamos beneficiando a la ilegalidad”

The trade war between Colombia and Ecuador remains a concern for trade and export sectors, following the national government’s decision to increase tariffs on products from the neighboring country.

Indeed, on the morning of Monday, March 2, the National Association of Foreign Trade (Analdex), led by Javier Díaz Molina, publicly demanded President Gustavo Petro to expedite the immediate removal of measures affecting trade between both nations.

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Díaz Molina warned that the current situation not only hinders commercial activity but also encourages informality and illegality along the border. According to the trade leader, the deterioration in bilateral economic relations jeopardizes years of regional integration efforts.

“Both countries are mistreating each other, harming their economic prospects by restricting formal and legal trade, and only benefiting illegal activities,” stated the Analdex president during his remarks.

According to Díaz Molina, the imposed barriers—including tariffs, surcharges, and security restrictions—only benefit those operating outside the law.

The leader demanded the urgent removal of these obstacles and insisted that both governments should prioritize formal trade. In his words, “it is our responsibility to defend the formal and legal trade of both countries.”

Analdex’s call wasn’t limited to just removing restrictions. Díaz Molina suggested establishing a bilateral working group to address security issues, one of the reasons behind some of the restrictions imposed by Ecuador.

“We want, as Analdex, to urge both governments to immediately lift the barriers that have been built around formal trade. Lift those surcharges or security taxes or tariffs, and the restrictions applied to trade and form a working group to design solutions to the security issues raised by President Noboa and monitor the implementation of those actions,” he emphasized.

The trade leader expressed concern over the failure to honor previous agreements: “Commitments have been established and they have not been fulfilled,” he lamented.

Regarding distrust over security actions, he recalled that Colombia has 19,000 troops deployed at the border, although Ecuador questions the effectiveness of that cooperation.

“Because we have spoken with our authorities, and they say: “We are addressing the issue, we have 19,000 troops deployed at the border, we are coordinating with Ecuador’s military forces,” but on the other hand, it is said: “No, that is not true,” Díaz pointed out.

In this context, Díaz Molina made a special appeal to Ecuador, the country currently holding the pro tempore presidency of the Andean Community. He highlighted the importance of preserving the regional integration process and warned of the risk of the situation undermining Andean institutionalism.

“The call is for us to defend this integration process, which, as Bruce said, is a process we have built over years to end it like this. And I believe the call, particularly to Ecuador, which today has the pro tempore presidency of the Andean Community, is that it must leave a very positive legacy,” emphasized the trade leader.

For Analdex, it is essential that the Ecuadorian presidency produces a positive outcome and is not remembered for reversing the progress made. The leader concluded by reaffirming the association’s willingness to work together “for the sake of formal and legal trade” to prevent the current border crisis from eroding regional cooperation.