Category: Colombia

Colombia attempts to hinder steel imports from Turkey

Kolombiya’dan Türk Çeliğine Karalama

Turkish Steel Exporters’ Association has stated that certain circles in Colombia have started a campaign of defamation against imports from Turkey, claiming that Turkish products are not up to standard, with the aim of hindering steel imports from Turkey.

According to the CIB, as of January 1st 2013, Colombia started to take samples of imported Turkish steel products at customs for analysis. CIB chairman Mr Namik Ekinci said that the sampling implemented in the wake of groundless claims has resulted in imported products being delayed at customs for a long period of time and that the action represents a non tariff barrier aimed at hindering imports.

The CIB stated that in past years some other circles which were uncomfortable with steel imports from Turkey resorted to the same system, while he warned Colombian importers not to base their imports from Turkey on an analysis which does not reflect the truth. As a result of the CIB’s efforts and dialogue between the CIB and the Colombian steel industry association Fedemetal, the analysis report in question regarding Turkish steel imports has turned out to be groundless and the institution responsible for the claims has published a disclaimer.

Mr Ekinci said that Turkish steel exporters previously faced similar obstacles in other steelmaking countries, underlining that Turkish steel products are exported to 186 countries, adding that Turkish steel is preferred in these countries given their high quality at competitive prices and that the high quality of Turkish steel is always proved in the face of such claims.

The CIB chairman underscored that these attempts to disrupt steel imports from Turkey will contradict the essence and purpose of the free trade agreement planned to be signed between Turkey and Colombia. He went on to said that the CIB would like to invite Colombian business people and media members to visit steelmaking facilities in Turkey and to observe production processes for high quality products. Mr Ekinci indicated that the CIB welcomes any collaboration with Colombian business people and is ready to supply the Colombian steel industry with materials as well as know how and experience regarding the industry.

Source – Steel Orbis

April 21, 2013
Colombia to launch free trade talks with Turkey

By Dan Molinski

BOGOTA -(MarketWatch)- Colombia begins free trade talks with Turkey next week as the South American nation moves to broaden its ties around the world given that hopes for a free trade deal with the U.S. remain in doubt.

A statement Friday from Colombia’s Trade Ministry said first-round talks with Turkey will take place all next week in Bogota starting Monday, with two more rounds of talks planned for July and September. The statement didn’t indicate when a final deal may be reached.

Trade between Colombia and Turkey is small, with just $271 million worth of goods switching hands. Colombia exported $214 million of products to Turkey, with coal accounting for much of that. Turkey sent Colombia $57 million in goods, including artillery parts, auto parts and textiles.

Colombia for years has been vying for a permanent free trade agreement with the U.S., its main trading partner, but Washington has so far failed to give any deal final approval. It seemed until a few weeks ago that a Colombia-U.S. trade pact would finally be sealed, but then the Obama administration said no deal will happen unless Republican lawmakers give some ground on worker benefits.

President Juan Manuel Santos said in early 2011 that if a deal with the U.S. isn’t formalized soon, Colombia will give up trying, and that in the meantime his government will continue pursuing other trade deals around the globe.

Santos said the trade talks with Turkey are part of a broader effort to increase ties with other nations that form the so-called CIVETS group, an acronym for Colombia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey and South Africa.

via Colombia to launch free trade talks with Turkey – MarketWatch.

May 28, 2011
Colombia Plans To Start Free Trade Talks With Turkey

BOGOTA -(Dow Jones)- Colombia plans to start free trade talks with Turkey later this year, part of an ongoing effort by Bogota to broaden its trade ties around the world as hopes for a free trade agreement with the U.S. remain in doubt.

A statement from Colombia’s trade ministry said officials from Turkey and Colombia met earlier this week in Ankara and agreed that a first round of talks could begin in Bogota as early as late May.

The announcement comes a few weeks after the trade ministry said it hoped to wrap up a free trade deal with South Korea by late June and that it is also aiming for a free trade agreement with Japan.

Colombia for years has been vying for a permanent free trade agreement with the U.S., its main trading partner, but lawmakers in Washington have so far failed to ratify any such deal.

That’s led to frustration in Bogota, and President Juan Manuel Santos said recently that if a deal with the U.S. isn’t formalized soon, Colombia will give up trying. In the meantime, he said his government will continue pursuing other trade deals around the globe.

Colombia’s push to increase the number of countries it trades with is also in response to a 2009 decision by Venezuela, its neighbor and a major trading partner, to begin cutting back on trade due in part to Bogota’s close ties with the U.S.

Trade between Colombia and Turkey is minimal, reaching just $271 million last year. Colombia exported $214 million worth of products to Turkey, including coal. Turkey in turn shipped about $57 million worth of goods, including artillery parts, auto parts and textiles.

-By Dan Molinski, Dow Jones Newswires; 57-310-867-6542; dan.molinski@ dowjones.com

via Colombia Plans To Start Free Trade Talks With Turkey.

March 17, 2011