Estudio de caso demanda Panamá a Colombia ante la OMC (2013)

Abstract

Panamá and Colombia have always had good relationships; they have worked hard to maintain a linkage that gives them both a benefit in the commercial field due Panamá is the direct connection that Colombia has whit the rest of the world. Most of the products that get into the national territory from other countries came from the Panamá Canal. But the Colombia´s eagerness to protect the national market have created disagreements in the Panamanian’s market. Therefore, Colombia, seeing the entry of products at low cost to the national territory decided to take tariff measures that help the affected sectors, among these are textiles and footwear. In counterpart to these measures, Panamá submits a request to the OMC where it expresses its disagreement whit the decisions imposed on the increase of tariffs on these products generated by Colombia. The OMC got involved as a mediator in the conflict to prevent this issue affects other countries due Panamá increased the tariffs to certain products with which they have trade agreements as a defense way not only to affect the Colombian market, but also affect products from other countries, this made an impact for both markets decreasing their bilateral imports and exports.