WTO Rules Colombia Non-Compliant in EU Frozen Fries Anti-Dumping Dispute

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has ruled that Colombia's anti-dumping duties on frozen fries imported from Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands violate international trade rules due to flawed calculation methodologies. Specifically, Colombia's Ministry of Trade used an improper method by applying simple averages instead of the required weighted average-to-weighted average comparison, artificially inflating dumping margins. This led to a compliance panel finding that Colombia failed to properly implement previous WTO recommendations and remains in breach of its obligations. The European Union (EU) initiated the dispute in 2019 after Colombia imposed duties in 2018, which affected a significant portion of EU exports valued at over €19 million. Both Colombia and the EU, participants in the WTO's Multi-party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement, have not appealed the latest compliance report, allowing the WTO Dispute Settlement Body to adopt the ruling. Following adoption, Colombia must promptly repeal the duties or face potential authorized retaliation by the EU.