- Title: EU to challenge Colombia at WTO to protect Belgian fries
- Date: 14th October 2019
- Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (FILE - MAY 18, 2018) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF OWNER OF A FRITKOT - A STALL SELLING FRIES IN CENTRAL BRUSSELS - SERVING FRIES TO CUSTOMERS
- Embargoed: 28th October 2019 12:49
- Keywords: Cecilia Malmstrom frozen potato fries Netherlands World Trade Organization complaint European Union Germany Colombia WTO Belgium
- Location: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- City: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- Country: Belgium
- Topics: Government/Politics,International Trade
- Reuters ID: LVA003B12LW7B
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The European Union will file a complaint at the World Trade Organization against Colombia over duties imposed on imports of frozen potato fries, EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said on Monday (October 14).
Colombia imposed anti-dumping duties of up to 8% in November 2018 on frozen fries from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany after complaining that the prices of these imports were artificially low.
Belgium, the self-proclaimed home of potato fries, urged the European Union a year ago to launch legal action.
Although small in monetary terms - the EU as a whole exports just 25 million euros ($27.6 million) of frozen fries to Colombia per year - the dispute is big in symbolism particularly for Belgium, which argues that it invented the "French" fry.
The first step in a WTO dispute is a 60-day period of consultations. If these do not resolve the issue, the complainant can ask for a WTO panel to adjudicate.
The EU and Colombia have had a trade deal in place since 2013.
(Production Hortense de Roffignac) - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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