EU requests WTO panel over Colombia’s discrimination against imported spirits

The European Union requested on 22 August 2016 the establishment of a World Trade Organisation (WTO) panel to rule on a dispute concerning Colombia's discrimination against imported spirits.

The EU had requested consultations with the country under the WTO in January, and these were held in March but failed to find a positive solution to the dispute. The request for a WTO panel to be established was scheduled to be discussed on 2 September.

At any stage of dispute settlement procedures, Colombia can reform the spirits' regime in Colombia and eliminate the discrimination of imported spirits, thereby prompting that a solution is found without necessarily waiting for adjudication by a WTO panel.

• Primary Source

EEAS: EU Relations with Colombia https://eeas.europa.eu/colombia/index_en.htm

EurActiv, 25.08.16: EU asks for WTO panel over Colombia’s tax practices on spirits http://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/eu-asks-for-wto-panel-over-colombias-tax-practices-on-spirits/

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