Colombia would not comply with the agreement for the entry of Ecuadorian carriers that carry products

The Ministry of Transport and Public Works requests that reciprocity be complied with, otherwise it will adopt a similar action.

Ecuador will apply reciprocity if Colombia does not allow its truck drivers to enter the agreed collection points for the period of the pandemic. This is about 8-10 kilometers from the common border.

According to the Minister of Transport and Public Works of Ecuador, Gabriel Martínez, the Colombian Government gave the provision that Ecuadorian drivers no longer enter that territory.

Martínez recalled that in order to face the crisis, the two nations agreed to allow trucks to pass to the border collection centers where the merchandise was transshipped. But this agreement was not fulfilled two weeks ago by Colombia.

The Secretary of State commented that the moment drivers arrive in Colombia, a change of driver is required and only in this way the product is entered.

In the transport sector there is annoyance at this action, especially because they are forced to hand over their vehicles to strangers to receive them hours after they go to the collection center, deliver their cargo and return.

In view of this situation, he commented that one of those drivers had already collided with an Ecuadorian vehicle in the Rumichaca pass.

He said that it is not a reciprocal and equal treatment, which is why the Colombian authorities have been asked to review that decision to avoid taking similar measures.

The borders between the two countries have been closed since the state of emergency was declared in mid-March due to the pandemic and although people are not allowed to enter, cargo trucks with goods that are necessary for both countries do enter and leave. Ecuador applied the same measure on its border with Peru, where the entry of goods continues normally.

According to data from the ministry, 2,110 tractor-trailers and 416 trucks have entered through these border crossings, with a cut-off until April 26.

The merchandise traffic, destined to keep the country supplied during the crisis, is then carried out by the six internal corridors authorized by the ministry, which cover some 3,300 kilometers of the Ecuadorian road network.

Source: El Comercio, MTOP