Government issued decree on the subject that aims to combat money laundering.

In order to cope with money laundering and smuggling of goods, the government decided to maintain the collection of a mixed tariff on imports of footwear, apparel and textile products entering the country from the Colon Free Zone (Panama) from China.

The decree has just been issued by the Minister of Finance and Public Credit, Mauricio Cardenas Santamaria and the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Maria Claudia Lacouture.

The decision, which will run until next November first, replaces the decree of February 2014, which caused tensions with the authorities of the neighboring country.

“The compound tariff is capable of combating money laundering, so that there is a relationship between the measure and the protection of public morals,” says the decree of the Ministries of Finance and Commerce, also warn that fits the Penal Code.

Panama took the case to the World Trade Organization (WTO) last June ordered dismantling the initial decree, because it violates the ceilings allowed by the multilateral organization on tariffs.

Therefore, the new decree issued it the Government before tomorrow’s meeting at the WTO between representatives of the two countries to seek arbitration to mediate in the negotiations.

In 2012, Colombia began to apply tariffs of up to 10 percent on footwear and textiles from Columbus plus a fee of $ 5 for each container, in order to tackle smuggling and money laundering, which has hit the domestic industry.

The problem is that the country is entering pairs of shoes to 50 cents, ie 1,500 pesos, and fabrics at extremely low prices, although they would receive the maximum tariff allowed by the WTO, which is 35 percent, it is not possible to compete with them.

For footwear producers, it is useless to 35 percent of (specific and value) compound rate because they have real effects for goods arriving from China at prices between 20 and 50 cents. They warn that this mechanism does is legalize dumping.

Employers have expressed their willingness to respect the WTO agreements, in addition to maintaining cordial relations with Panama.

But they ask that reach a solution that does not keep hitting those sectors of the national economy.

Source: http://www.eltiempo.com/