Colombia
Preface
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.
Concluding Remarks by the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review Body, H.E. Mr. Juan Carlos González of Colombia at the Trade Policy Review of The Gambia, 23 and 25 January 2018
This third Trade Policy Review has offered us an excellent opportunity to deepen our understanding of recent developments in The Gambia and the achievements and challenges related to its trade and investment policies. Also as was highlighted by several delegations during the review this exercise has come at an important juncture for The Gambia after having experienced a historical democratic change in government last year.
Report by the WTO Secretariat
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.
Concluding Remarks by the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review Body, H.E. Mr. Juan Carlos González of Colombia at the Trade Policy Review of The Philippines, 26 and 28 March 2018
This fifth Trade Policy Review of the Philippines has offered us an excellent opportunity to deepen our understanding of the trade economic and investment policies of the Philippines. More than 300 questions from 22 Members were submitted to the Philippines before the meeting which underlines the importance Members attached to this Review. I would like to thank the delegation of the Philippines led by H.E. Dr. Ceferino Rodolfo Undersecretary of Trade and Industry the discussant H.E. Ambassador Stephen de Boer of Canada and the 34 delegations that took the floor for their valuable contributions to this Review.
Concluding Remarks by the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review Body, H.E. Mr Juan Carlos González of Colombia at the Trade Policy Review of Cambodia, 21 and 23 November 2017
The second Trade Policy Review of Cambodia has offered us a good opportunity to deepen our understanding of recent developments the achievements and challenges related to Cambodia’s trade economic and investment policies. Cambodia plays an important and a valued role in the WTO as a Member of the LDC group that has strived for the group’s better integration into the multilateral trading system. The more than 147 advance written questions submitted by 14 Members and the 24 delegations that took the floor underline the importance attached to Cambodia’s trade and investment policies and practices.
Concluding Remarks by the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review Body, H.E. Mr Eloi Laourou of Benin at the Trade Policy Review of Colombia, 12 and 14 June 2018
This fifth Trade Policy Review has allowed us to deepen our understanding of Colombia’s trade and investment policies and in particular of the several reforms and changes introduced since the last Review in 2012. I would like to thank the Colombian delegation headed by Mrs. Olga Lucía Lozano Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade for her very constructive engagement throughout this exercise. I would also like to thank our discussant Ambassador José Luis Cancela Permanent Representative of Uruguay to the WTO for his interesting and insightful remarks as well as the 39 delegations which took the floor the first day for their active participation in this review.
Report by Colombia
During the previous Trade Policy Review the Government of Colombia shared its four-year plan for 2010–2014 “Prosperity for All” with WTO Members. The Plan sought to bolster security social cohesion and investor confidence and to make determined progress in the Government’s policy of democratic prosperity.