Belgian frozen fries regain access to Colombian market after six-year dispute

Belgian frozen fries exporters have regained full access to the Colombia market after the European Union secured the removal of anti-dumping duties on shipments from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.

The decision restores trade for about 85% of EU frozen fries exports affected by the tariffs, worth roughly €19.3 million a year. Belgium, the world’s largest exporter of frozen fries, had a major stake in the case.

The move brings to an end a six-year dispute at the World Trade Organization (WTO). It is also the first case to be fully resolved under the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA), a temporary system set up to handle appeals.

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Colombia scrapped the duties through a resolution adopted on 11 March 2026, complying with earlier WTO rulings that found the measures breached international trade rules.

The tariffs, introduced in 2018, had targeted most EU frozen fries exports to Colombia. A first attempt by Colombia to comply with WTO rulings was rejected in 2025, before this final step removed the duties entirely.

The outcome is particularly significant for Belgium’s potato processing industry, which has been facing falling prices and oversupply. With limited demand beyond contracted volumes, additional export markets such as Colombia could be crucial for easing pressure on the sector.

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