Colombia Restores Full Market Access for EU Frozen Fries Exports After Revoking Anti-Dumping Duties

Colombia has officially revoked all anti-dumping duties on imports of frozen fries from the European Union, restoring full market access for exporters from Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. The move reopens access for the 85% of EU frozen fries exports that had previously been affected by the trade measures. 

The decision marks the complete resolution of a six-year-long World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute between the EU and Colombia over anti-dumping duties imposed on frozen fries. It also represents a significant milestone for the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA), which both the EU and Colombia are part of. 

According to the Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security, the anti-dumping duties were formally revoked under Colombian Resolution 108, dated March 11, 2026. The measure had affected EU frozen fries exports worth approximately €19.3 million annually.

WTO Dispute Reaches Full Compliance Through MPIA

The restoration of market access is especially notable because it is the first WTO dispute to reach the full compliance stage through the MPIA, a mechanism designed to preserve a functioning dispute settlement process in the absence of a working WTO Appellate Body. 

The frozen fries dispute began in 2018, when Colombia imposed anti-dumping duties on frozen fries imports from Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. These duties were later challenged by the European Union at the WTO. 

In 2022, both a WTO panel and MPIA arbitrators found that Colombia’s anti-dumping measures violated WTO anti-dumping rules. However, Colombia’s first attempt to implement the rulings was also judged to be inconsistent with WTO rules by a compliance panel on October 23, 2025. 

Colombia then made a second attempt to comply, which was completed this week and successfully resulted in the repeal of all remaining duties, fully restoring access for EU frozen fries exporters.

Significant Trade Win for EU Exporters

With the removal of the duties, exporters in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands can once again ship frozen fries to Colombia without anti-dumping barriers. This is a meaningful development for the EU frozen potato products sector, particularly given the value of the trade impacted by the measures.

The revoked duties had covered the majority of EU frozen fries exports to Colombia, making this outcome an important trade and market-access win for European processors and exporters.

MPIA Highlighted as Effective WTO Alternative

The case is also being highlighted as a strong example of the effectiveness of the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA).

Created in 2020 by the EU and other WTO members, the MPIA was designed to maintain a functioning dispute settlement system while the WTO Appellate Body remains non-operational. According to the EU, the mechanism now covers around 60% of world trade and has already demonstrated its value in several disputes. 

In addition to the Colombia frozen fries case, the EU noted that the MPIA has also proven effective in other WTO matters, including the EU dispute with China regarding the enforcement of intellectual property rights.

The current MPIA members are Australia; Benin; Brazil; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Costa Rica; Ecuador; the European Union (and its Member States); Guatemala; Hong Kong, China; Iceland; Japan; Liechtenstein; Macao, China; Mexico; Malaysia; Moldova; Montenegro; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Norway; Pakistan; Paraguay; Peru; the Philippines; Singapore; Switzerland; Ukraine; United Kingdom; Uruguay; and Viet Nam.

Background at a Glance

• 2018: Colombia imposed anti-dumping duties on frozen fries imports from Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. 
• 2022: WTO panel and MPIA arbitrators ruled the duties violated WTO anti-dumping rules. 
• October 23, 2025: Colombia’s first compliance attempt was ruled WTO-inconsistent. 
• March 11, 2026: Colombia adopted Resolution 108, revoking all anti-dumping duties. 
• March 17, 2026: EU confirmed that full market access for frozen fries exports had been restored.

Industry and Trade Implications

The repeal of the duties is expected to provide renewed opportunities for EU frozen fries exporters in the Colombian market and reinforces confidence in WTO-backed dispute settlement mechanisms, even under current institutional challenges. 

For the European potato processing industry, the outcome closes a long-running trade dispute and secures renewed access to an important overseas market for frozen potato products.