Colombia has lifted anti-dumping duties on imports of frozen fries from the European Union, bringing to a close a six-year dispute under the World Trade Organization framework.

The removal of the duties was formalised through Colombian Resolution 108 of 11 March 2026, according to the European Commission. The measures had affected EU frozen potato product exports valued at approximately €19.3 million annually.

The duties were originally introduced in 2018, targeting frozen fries originating from Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. The EU subsequently challenged the measures through the WTO dispute settlement system.

In 2022, a WTO panel, alongside arbitrators operating under the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement, determined that Colombia’s anti-dumping duties were inconsistent with WTO rules. A further compliance panel ruling issued on 23 October 2025 found that Colombia’s initial attempt to align with the decision also failed to meet WTO requirements.

The case marks the first dispute to reach full compliance stage under the MPIA mechanism, which was established in 2020 by the EU and other WTO members to maintain a functioning appellate system amid the continued paralysis of the WTO’s Appellate Body.

According to the European Commission, the MPIA now covers approximately 60% of global trade and has been used in several disputes, including cases involving China and intellectual property enforcement.

For EU frozen potato processors and exporters, the removal of duties restores access to the Colombian market under standard trade conditions, ending several years of restricted competitiveness linked to the imposed tariffs.