A World Trade Organization (WTO) arbitration panel ruled, on Monday 10 October, in favour of the European Union in its dispute with Colombia. The EU had attacked in 2019 a Colombian measure targeting imports of frozen fries from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany (83% of all European frozen fries exported) which are subject to anti-dumping duties applied by Bogota (see EUROPE 12370/19).
On 13 July 2020, the EU and Colombia agreed to use the WTO’s alternative appeal procedure, even before the outcome of the first instance arbitration was known. This would allow them to bypass the traditional Appellate Body, which has been blocked for several years.
The decision in the first instance reached them on 29 August. Colombia failed to comply with WTO rules on several fronts in its anti-dumping investigation, according to the arbitration report, which calls for Colombian measures to be brought into conformity.
The appeal decision is expected within the next 90 days and will determine whether or not the Colombian measures should be brought into compliance. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)