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Original article: Gobierno de Colombia desmiente al de Ecuador por derogación de aranceles y denuncia injerencia en su proceso electoral

Colombia Accuses Ecuador of Breaching CAN Orders and Rejects «Interference» in Electoral Process Following Tariff Repeal

The Colombian Foreign Ministry asserts that the removal of trade restrictions is not a gesture of goodwill but rather a compulsory compliance with Andean resolutions, cautioning that linking economic measures to electoral contexts undermines trust and regional integration.

The Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an official statement responding to Ecuador’s announcement regarding the elimination of tariff measures effective June 1, 2026, on bilateral trade between the two countries. The Colombian Foreign Office asserted that this decision is not a voluntary concession but a fulfillment of obligations stemming from resolutions issued by the General Secretariat of the Andean Community (CAN).

According to the Colombian government, the repeal of tariffs results from «mandatory directives» issued by the CAN to remove the trade restrictions that Ecuador had applied unilaterally. In this context, Bogotá stated that attributing this measure to political or electoral factors «dilutes its legal and institutional foundation» and could compromise the trust of productive sectors and the proper development of bilateral relations.

The statement further adds that the measures implemented by Ecuador were contrary to the principles and obligations of Andean law, affecting intracommunity trade, the legal security of economic operators, and the productive and social dynamics of border communities.

Colombia also highlighted that the Ecuadorian decision comes at a time when various international organizations, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), had warned of the economic risks associated with maintaining trade restrictions. According to the Foreign Ministry, these observations pointed to potential negative impacts on productive activity, competitiveness, the welfare of border communities, and market functioning.

The Colombian government indicated that restoring conditions as outlined in Andean regulations is a significant step toward preserving the regional integration process, strengthening mutual trust, and consolidating economic relations between both states. However, it expressed concern over public statements that it believes link economic and commercial decisions to political-electoral dynamics.

In the statement, Colombia emphasized that trade measures affecting workers, producers, businesses, and border communities should be made strictly based on technical, legal, and institutional criteria. Moreover, it warned that using decisions with significant economic and social consequences in electoral contexts could create uncertainty and undermine trust among economic agents.

The Foreign Ministry also expressed a «categorical rejection» of what it described as a misleading presentation of the tariff repeal, arguing that the measure responds to CAN’s requirements and not a unilateral initiative by the Ecuadorian government. Simultaneously, it condemned a «deliberate interference» in the Colombian electoral process, stating that the intervention of a foreign leader in another state’s internal affairs constitutes a violation of the principle of non-intervention, a threat to national sovereignty, and an affront to the democratic system.

Finally, Colombia reaffirmed that trade and integration matters should remain free from political-electoral considerations and be managed with full respect for the sovereignty of states and existing international commitments. In line with Ecuador’s announced normalization, it also stated it would repeal measures adopted to counteract the distortions caused by Ecuadorian restrictions, thereby reaffirming its commitment to free intracommunity trade, Andean integration, and strengthening bilateral relations.

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