Arbitrators have ruled in favour of the EU in the World Trade Organization (WTO) appeal regarding Colombia’s anti-dumping duties on frozen fries originating from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.
The European Potato Processors’ Association (EUPPA) says in a news release the final and binding award confirms that these anti-dumping duties breach WTO rules and improperly restrict access to the Colombian market.
“The decision is a win for European producers whose exports to Colombia of well over €20 million were affected by the Colombian duties”, stated the European Commission. The arbitrators confirm that Colombia’s anti-dumping investigation was flawed in several respects, including the calculation of the dumping margin and the injury analysis. EUPPA and its members have warned the relevant authorities about the detrimental impact of such measures for the sector.
The Colombian-imposed duties that were set in November 2018, impact eighty-five percent (€19.3 million) of the frozen fries exported to Colombia from the three EU countries concerned. EUPPA is relieved that its call has been heard by the European Commission and WTO arbitrators.
“On behalf of the European potato processing companies exporting to Colombia, we sincerely thank the European Commission for its consistent and thorough efforts to ensure that the antidumping investigation is carried out in full compliance with WTO rules”, said Nuria Moreno (EUPPA Secretary General).
She continued: “This decision sends a strong signal to the EU’s international trade partners and provides much needed stability to European exporters in times of uncertainty with major geopolitical and economic disturbances”.
Source: EUPPA. Original news release here
Photo: Credit and courtesy EUPPA
