Overview
- At a CAF forum in Panama, Colombia’s Gustavo Petro publicly invited Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa to negotiate, but Noboa did not accept the offer onstage and returned early to Quito.
- A brief encounter between the two foreign ministers in Panama produced no announcements, though Ecuador said the door to dialogue remains open.
- Ecuador’s 30% import levy framed as a security fee is slated to start Sunday, while Colombia has matched with a 30% tariff and suspended electricity sales that supply roughly 8% to 10% of Ecuador’s power.
- Ecuador also raised the SOTE pipeline fee charged to Ecopetrol from $3 to $30 per barrel, intensifying the use of energy infrastructure as leverage.
- Border trade groups and industry leaders warn the standoff could raise prices, risk shortages and fuel contraband, and analysts note the Andean Community could review the new trade barriers.