Colombia Revokes Anti-Dumping Duties on EU Frozen Fries

EU Trade News

Filed March 11th, 2026

Detected March 18th, 2026

Summary

Colombia has revoked anti-dumping duties on EU frozen fries, resolving a six-year WTO dispute. The duties, valued at approximately €19.3 million annually, were initially imposed in 2018 and found to be WTO-inconsistent. This resolution marks a significant success for the WTO's Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement.

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What changed

Colombia, through Resolution 108 of March 11, 2026, has revoked the anti-dumping duties previously imposed on imports of frozen fries originating from the EU. These duties, which affected EU exports valued at approximately €19.3 million per year, were initially implemented in 2018 and subsequently found to be in violation of WTO anti-dumping rules by both a WTO panel and MPIA arbitrators. This revocation represents the successful resolution of a six-year WTO dispute (DS591) and the first dispute to reach full compliance through the MPIA mechanism.

This action restores full market access for EU frozen fries exporters to Colombia. Regulated entities, particularly EU manufacturers and exporters of frozen fries, should note the removal of these trade barriers. While no specific compliance deadline is mentioned for exporters, the revocation is effective immediately following the Colombian resolution. The successful resolution highlights the effectiveness of the MPIA in dispute settlement, and companies should be aware of the implications for trade relations and dispute resolution mechanisms within the WTO framework.

What to do next

Confirm removal of anti-dumping duties on frozen fries exports to Colombia.
Review trade agreements and dispute settlement mechanisms for potential implications.

Source document (simplified)

This restoration of full market access constitutes a complete resolution of the six-year-old WTO dispute between the EU and Colombia. The dispute demonstrates the effectiveness of the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA) which maintains a fully-functioning dispute settlement system in the WTO, among the participating countries. It is the first dispute to reach the full compliance stage through the MPIA, of which both the EU and Colombia are members.

The anti-dumping duties on EU exports of frozen fries to Colombia were revoked by Colombian Resolution 108 of 11 March 2026. The value of EU exports concerned by the measure was approximately €19.3 million per year.

Background

The original anti-dumping duties imposed by Colombia on imports of frozen fries from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands in 2018 were found to violate WTO anti-dumping rules both by a panel and the MPIA arbitrators in 2022. Colombia's first attempt to implement the rulings was also found to be WTO-inconsistent by a compliance panel on 23 October 2025. Colombia’s second attempt at implementation of the panel compliance ruling, completed this week, is successful and has led to repeal of all duties.

The MPIA is a mechanism created by the EU and other Members in 2020 to preserve functioning dispute settlement in the absence of a working Appellate Body at the WTO. It covers 60% of world trade and has proven its effectiveness in many WTO disputes, notably also in the EU dispute with China on the enforcement of intellectual property rights.

The current MPIA members are Australia; Benin; Brazil; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Costa Rica; Ecuador; the European Union (and its Member States); Guatemala; Hong Kong, China; Iceland; Japan; Liechtenstein; Macao, China; Mexico; Malaysia; Moldova; Montenegro; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Norway; Pakistan; Paraguay; Peru; the Philippines; Singapore; Switzerland; Ukraine; United Kingdom; Uruguay; and Viet Nam.

For more information

Case DS591 on WTO website

Dispute settlement in the EU

Details

Publication date 17 March 2026 Author Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security Location Brussels Country or region
- Colombia
Trade topics
- Dispute settlement
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