Entrepreneurs say the country must retaliate

Panamanian authorities should be firmer and retaliate to Colombia, to the actions of "bad faith" in the neighboring country, said Panamanian businessmen, after the Notice of Appeal by Colombia to the decision of the World Trade Organisation ( WTO) for Panama, tariffs on textiles and footwear.

The WTO ruled in favor of Panama, confirming that the mixed tariffs on textiles and footwear imposed by Colombia agreements are in violation of this entity.

Despite this ruling, Colombia filed a Notice of Appeal on the report of the panel handling the case "Colombia-measures on imports of textiles, clothing and footwear" from Panama.

Colombia imposed tariffs on textiles and footwear from Panama, specifically in the Colon Free Zone (ZLC) Region have affected the commercial movement of this commercial emporium. Colombia accounted for about 25% of sales of the ZLC and today ranges between 15% and 12%.

In this situation, Severo Sousa, president of the Business Council and president of the Logistics Association of Users of the Free Zone, said that this is a typical reaction that Colombia has taken in these cases and is the second time that happens with Panama.

"We have insisted that the government must have stronger reactions, there are some ways to apply retaliatory measures obliging Colombia, once and for all, to admit that he is doing something wrong and to stop it," he said.

In this match, the president of the Association of Users of the Free Zone, Marcos Téllez, who said this is the legitimate way to delay the process by Colombia.

"It will take months while the appeal is resolved and meanwhile, Colombia continue to collect additional charges for these items, so that Panama should take reciprocal steps," he said.

Adolfo Linares, president of the Panama Chamber of Commerce, said that while it is true Colombia has the right to take the action they are taking, considered to be proof of "bad faith" and repetitive will that has been demonstrated to Panama so unjust.

"This is the second time that Panama beats similar to Colombia fault and they refuses abide" he said.

"As an action you should leave the table negotiating the treaty to avoid double taxation tax was a requirement of Colombia, or rather, the threat of Colombia to include us on the list of tax haven," he said.

He said that if Colombia does not accept the rules of public international law and WTO agreements, then we must prepare legally and not leave this case in the hands of defenders of the WTO, because this time there is more pressure.

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Datos

• Cada apelación es examinada por tres miembros de un Órgano Permanente de Apelación integrado por siete miembros, de prestigio reconocido y no vinculados a ningún gobierno, representativos en términos generales de la composición geográfica de los miembros de la OMC y elegidos por un periodo fijo.

• Generalmente, el Órgano de Apelación dispone de hasta tres meses para concluir su informe.

• La medida en litigio es el arancel compuesto que Colombia impuso por medio de un decreto. En respuesta, Colombia adujo ante la entidad de comercio mundial que las importaciones afectadas por el arancel compuesto constituyen "comercio ilícito".