Panama: “Firm Hand” Demanded for Colombia


News from Panama / Sunday, November 20th, 2016

textiles

Preventing the participation of Colombian companies in the tender processes is one of the actions proposed by Panamanian businessmen as a retaliatory measure to the conflict over tariffs.

“More forceful and effective action” is what the Panamanian Association of Business Executives is demanding of the Varela government, to defend the interests of Panama in the conflict over the collection of fees in Colombia on imports of textiles and footwear coming from the Colon Free Zone.

The Apede proposes “… including restrictions on natural or legal persons from Colombia (or those whose final beneficiaries are Colombian nationals), to participate in any procurement process or granting of new concessions, permits or authorizations by the National Government of the Republic of Panama.”

Laestrella.com.pa reports that “…The petition from the guild was submitted after the Cabinet Council announced the creation of an ad hoc committee on November 8, to assess the actions taken by the Government regarding recent decrees issued by Colombia, on new tariff and nontariff restrictions for our country. “