QUITO, (Reuters) – Ecuador has slapped import duties on hundreds of Colombian goods and has sought the arrest of a key Colombian politician, raising concerns that already tense relations between the Andean neighbors could worsen.
The countries cut diplomatic ties in March 2008, after Colombian forces killed 25 people in an anti-guerrilla raid in Ecuador. Colombian President Alvaro Uribe later accused Ecuador of harboring terrorists, and Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa called Uribe a dictator.
This week, Correa introduced import duties on some 1,400 Colombian products, arguing that Colombian exporters are taking advantage of their weak currency to flood Ecuador with goods. Earlier this month, Ecuador asked Interpol to arrest the Colombian defense minister at the time of the raid, Juan Manuel Santos, who may run for president next year. Interpol said no.
Patrick Esteruelas, an analyst with the Eurasia Group, said that although both countries are to blame for the break down in relations, Ecuador is throwing most of the punches.
“The Ecuadorean administration has been particularly guilty in prolonging this conflict. President Correa has time and again ignored Colombian government efforts to turn the corner and extend a olive branch,” he said.
“There doesn’t seem to be any real effort to find some common ground and now it’s beginning to spill over to commercial relations as well,” Esteruelas said.
Oil-rich but cash-strapped Ecuador is struggling to find ways to prop up its economy. Export income has fallen due to low petroleum prices caused by the world economic crisis.