Colombia

“Trade Policy Reviews” analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat a report by the government and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - “key trade facts” - provides a visual overview of the WTO member’s major exports/imports main export destinations origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Colombia.

In November 2006 on the occasion of the third Trade Policy Review of Colombia WTO Members were informed of the rationale and objectives of Colombia’s Democratic Security Policy designed to enhance physical safety and improve investor confidence in order to stimulate economic growth and reduce poverty.

This fourth Trade Policy Review has offered a very useful opportunity for Members to deepen their understanding of the trade policies and practices of Jamaica and to collectively appreciate the challenges it faces in sustaining and improving its economic prosperity. I would like to thank the Jamaican delegation led by Her Excellency Mrs. Kamina Johnson Smith Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade the discussant Ambassador Högni S. Kristjánsson of Iceland and to the 31 delegations that took the floor for their valuable contributions.

The Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM) was first established on a trial basis by the GATT CONTRACTING PARTIES in April 1989. The Mechanism became a permanent feature of the World Trade Organization under the Marrakesh Agreement which established the WTO in January 1995.

Since the last Trade Policy Review conducted in 2006 Colombia has continued steering its trade policy towards greater openness setting its sights on closer integration with Latin America and the Caribbean as well as with the rest of the world through the negotiation of preferential agreements to increase external trade and foreign investment flows. To this end Colombia has participated in various negotiations to consolidate existing bilateral and regional agreements and has signed and continues actively negotiating new agreements with the aim of ensuring preferential access to strategic markets. This does not detract from the particular importance that Colombia attaches to participation in the WTO as part of its trade policy strategy. Colombia therefore places great emphasis on maintaining an open trade regime in the framework of a transparent multilateral system complemented by regional and bilateral efforts.

The increasing proliferation of bilateral regional and multilateral trade agreements has put new twists and brought new questions to the fore in the old debate on the effects of these agreements (either separately or together) on the concerned economies as well as on world trade as a whole. By July 2007 nearly 380 preferential trade agreements had been notified to the WTO and it is estimated that over 400 PTAs will be in force by 2010. Earlier the chief concern had been whether regional or bilateral agreements were building blocks or stumbling blocks toward multilateralism; this became an issue empirically for a while centering on how the two types of agreements had to exist “side by side” for better or for worse (Fisch 2001). As one Colombian negotiator put it: “The WTO is not a place of liberalization but consolidation”. The concern is now revisited in the context of a possible breakdown or slowing down of the multilateral order itself and the increasing pressure on small economies to meet the demands of the great powers in bilateral free trade agreements in defecting from both regional and multilateral trade arrangements. This chapter attends to the latter set of concerns in speaking of the GATS+-type arrangements becoming de rigueur in bilateral agreements. In doing so however it also showcases trade as an increasingly complex set of arrangements between local national regional and international dynamics.

I commend the Vice Minister and the Disccusant to make very pertinent remarks this morning and many issues which Members had have been touched on briefly but comprehensively. Chairing the meeting for the fourth Trade Policy Review of Colombia was personally a rewarding experience. The Trade Policy Review of Colombia has provided an opportunity for us to improve our understanding of recent developments in Colombia’s trade and trade related policies. I would like to thank Vice Minister Duque of Colombia Ambassador Eduardo Muñoz and the rest of the delegation of Colombia for their constructive engagement in this meeting. My thanks also go to Ambassador Tim Yeend for his excellent participation as discussant and to the Members for their numerous interventions. I would further like to commend the authorities of Colombia for the effort made to answer the questions received prior to this meeting.

The seventh Trade Policy Review of Malaysia has offered us a good opportunity to deepen our understanding of its trade and investment policies. I would like to thank the Malaysian delegation led by H.E. J. Jayasiri Secretary General of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry for its constructive engagement throughout this Review. I would also like to thank the discussant H.E. Ambassador Claudio de la Puente of Peru for his insightful remarks and all the delegations that took the floor for their valuable contributions. The 476 questions submitted by 27 Members and the interventions by 43 delegations underline the importance attached to Malaysia’s trade and investment policies and practices. Malaysia’s use of the alternative timeframe to reply to advance written questions to this TPR was also appreciated.

This fourth Trade Policy Review of the Plurinational State of Bolivia has provided us with the opportunity to deepen our understanding of its trade and investment policies and in particular regarding the reforms introduced since the last Review in 2005. I would like to thank the delegation from Bolivia led by Ambassador Clarems Endara Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade and Integration for its constructive engagement throughout this exercise. I would also like to thank our discussant Ambassador Francisco Lima Mena from El Salvador for his interesting and thought-provoking remarks as well as the 28 delegations which took the floor the first day for their active participation in this Review. Members were pleased to participate in the fourth Trade Policy Review of Bolivia which is taking place 12 years after the previous Review.

The Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM) was first established on a trial basis by the GATT contracting parties in April 1989. The Mechanism became a permanent feature of the World Trade Organization under the Marrakesh Agreement which established the WTO in January 1995.

This is the fifth review of the trade policies and practices of Colombia. During the review period between the beginning of 2012 and the end of 2017 Colombia’s GDP grew at an average annual rate of 3.3% driven chiefly by domestic demand. Having reached annual rates exceeding 4% in 2012-2014 this growth subsided somewhat starting in 2015. In 2017 GDP is estimated to have grown by 1.8%. This slowdown was the result of a decrease in exports particularly oil and other raw materials and a slower growth in domestic demand. Growth is expected to pick up in 2018. In order to stimulate the economy the authorities have launched an economic reform programme which includes tax incentives reductions in tariffs and other taxes changes in the investment regime and increased investment in infrastructure. Although the prospects for economic growth and inflation are favourable a number of structural problems still pose a significant challenge including the need to continue promoting diversification of the economy and reducing poverty.

It is usual for both governments and organizations from the private and civil society sector of developing countries to dedicate more time and resources to bilateral and regional negotiations than to multilateral negotiations. In principle this contradicts the classic theory of trade in which the greatest welfare gains are to be found in the multilateral field and in which preferential trade agreements (PTAs) can lead to trade diversion and welfare losses.

El 10 de agosto de 2018 la OMC hizo público el informe del Grupo especial sobre el caso “Unión europea y sus estados miembros - Determinadas medidas relativas a al sector de la energía”.

Le 27 novembre 2015 l’OMC a publié le rapport du Groupe spécial chargé d’examiner la plainte du Panama dans l’affaire “Colombie — Mesures visant les importations de textiles vêtements et chaussures” (DS461)

On 11 July 2019 the WTO circulated two panel report in the cases brought by Canada and Mexico in “United States — Certain Measures on Steel and Aluminium Products” (DS550) and “United States — Certain Measures on Steel and Aluminium Products” (DS551).

On 18 June 2013 Panama requested consultations with Colombia with respect to the imposition by Colombia of a compound tariff affecting the importation of textiles apparel and footwear from Panama. The measure at issue is a compound tariff that Colombia has allegedly imposed by Presidential Decree No. 074 of 23 January 2013 (Decree 074/2013). Panama claims that this measure at issue is contained in: - Decree 074/2013; - Decree 1497/2011 as regards the definition of the products covered by the nomenclature of Chapters 61 62 63 and 64 of the Tariff Schedule; and - Memorandum No. 000165 of 30 April 2013 from the Customs Management Department of the Directorate of National Taxes and Customs on “measures to control compliance with Decree 074 of 2013”.

On 18 June 2013 Panama requested consultations with Colombia with respect to the imposition by Colombia of a compound tariff affecting the importation of textiles apparel and footwear from Panama. The measure at issue is a compound tariff that Colombia has allegedly imposed by Presidential Decree No. 074 of 23 January 2013 (Decree 074/2013). Panama claims that this measure at issue is contained in: - Decree 074/2013; - Decree 1497/2011 as regards the definition of the products covered by the nomenclature of Chapters 61 62 63 and 64 of the Tariff Schedule; and - Memorandum No. 000165 of 30 April 2013 from the Customs Management Department of the Directorate of National Taxes and Customs on “measures to control compliance with Decree 074 of 2013”.

El 27 de abril de 2009 la OMC hizo público el informe del Grupo especial sobre el caso “Colombia - Precios indicativos y restricciones de los puertos de entrada”.

El 11 de julio de 2019 la OMC distribuyó dos informes del Grupo Especial que entendió en los asuntos planteados por el Canadá y México: “Estados Unidos — Determinadas medidas relativas a los productos de acero y aluminio” (DS550) y “Estados Unidos — Determinadas medidas relativas a los productos de acero y aluminio” (DS551).

L’OMC a publié le 27 avril le rapport de groupe spécial examinant la plainte déposée par le Panama dans l’affaire Colombie — Prix indicatifs et restrictions relatives aux bureaux d’entrée (DS366).

El 11 de julio de 2019 la OMC distribuyó dos informes del Grupo Especial que entendió en los asuntos planteados por el Canadá y México: “Estados Unidos — Determinadas medidas relativas a los productos de acero y aluminio” (DS550) y “Estados Unidos — Determinadas medidas relativas a los productos de acero y aluminio” (DS551).

Le 11 juillet 2019 l’OMC a distribué deux rapports du Groupe spécial chargé des affaires “États-Unis — Certaines mesures visant les produits en acier et en aluminium” (DS550) et “États-Unis — Certaines mesures visant les produits en acier et en aliminium” (DS551) introduites par le Canada et le Mexique respectivement.

On 20 July 2018 the WTO circulated the panel report in the case brought by Russia in “Ukraine — Anti-Dumping Measures on Ammonium Nitrate.