Tariff Barriers

Despite efforts to consolidate and simplify its tariff rate schedule, Colombia’s numerous economic integration agreements have fostered overlapping tariff applications. The applicable duty rate for a product can vary depending on its origin, such as whether it comes from a member of the Andean Community, the Latin American Integration Agreement, or the Caribbean Community. U.S. products that qualify under the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) can enter the market duty-free. Approximately 97% of the Colombian Harmonized Tariff Schedule (CHTS) products can be imported without an import license, but import tariffs and VAT still apply. Colombia’s harmonized tariff schedule book lists all applicable import duties. 
U.S. exporters can consult the CHTS through official Colombian government resources such as the National Tax and Customs Directorate (DIAN), which offers an online tariff consultation tool. Additionally, companies can obtain a copy of the CHTS, and expert advisory services from firms such as the following: 
•    Legis S.A.
•    Lecomex Ltda.
•    Agencia de Aduanas Acolcex S.A.S.

An additional tool is the U.S. Department of Commerce’s FTA Tariff Tool, which will provide the duty rate for a product qualifying under the TPA. You will need to know the first six digits of the Harmonized System code to search using this tool.

As of January 1, 2023, duties on several remaining U.S. agricultural products were eliminated. Tariffs on Colombia’s most sensitive agricultural goods are scheduled to be gradually phased out between January 1, 2026, and January 1, 2030. In the meantime, U.S. agricultural exporters continue to benefit from duty-free access for certain sensitive products through tariff-rate quotas.

Non-Tariff Barriers

Since the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA) entered into force in 2012, Colombia has significantly reduced trade barriers for U.S. goods. However, notable non-tariff and service-related challenges persist for U.S. companies, particularly in the areas of regulatory transparency, customs procedures, public procurement, professional services, and environmental approvals.

Environmental licenses

Certain projects in sectors such as mining and oil exploration must obtain environmental licenses to execute, and the process is often time-consuming, unpredictable, and can take several years to complete, with many licenses never being issued. Companies in these sectors must frequently go through a process called “prior consultation” (consulta previa) in which indigenous and other ethnic minority groups must be consulted before projects can be carried out in their communities. This process can take several years to complete, and some projects are never approved. The “iniciativa popular,” or local referendum, is a mechanism used by some communities to oppose activities by companies in the extractive industries. The pervasiveness of informal and illegal mining and logging in Colombia and the environmental damage that accompany them tarnish the image of the mining industry in general and generate resistance to legitimate mining concerns that adhere to environmental standards and labor regulations.  Decree 1275 issued in October 2024 may further complicate environmental licensing.  This decree recognizes indigenous authorities (including all forms of self-government in these communities) as part of the National Environmental System, granting them the same legal authority as national environmental authorities.  

Regulations and Standards Barriers  

Regulations sometimes change without adequate notification given to the World Trade Organization, industry, and other relevant stakeholders. Moreover, the comment period normally required for stakeholders to voice their opinions on the proposed regulatory change can be insufficient, and comments might not be given adequate review by relevant Colombian authorities.

Regarding standards, proposals to adopt and favor European standards over U.S. standards, along with mandatory testing requirements in Colombian laboratories despite existing international certifications, persist as significant trade barriers.

Recent regulatory developments in Colombia have introduced standards measures that impact U.S. exporters across several sectors. For the automotive industry, new import certification requirements for various vehicle components are creating barriers, thereby restricting market access for U.S. manufacturers. Similarly, U.S. companies exporting cosmetics and personal care products to Colombia face evolving registration and labeling standards that present compliance hurdles.

Government Procurement

The government procurement process in Colombia remains a barrier for many U.S. companies, as a lack of transparency and competitive bidding conditions in the public tender process have resulted in U.S. bidders being excluded from key projects such as infrastructure development and project management. The Colombian Government is making efforts to address this issue through strengthening the national public procurement agency, Colombia Compra Eficiente (Colombia Efficient Procurement), which has implemented an online procurement platform called SECOP II that is intended to promote more transparency in the RFP process in public works projects.

Customs Procedures

Although the implementation of the Single Window for Foreign Trade (VUCE) has significantly streamlined the paperwork process for imports and exports, Colombia’s bureaucracy still constitutes a barrier to trade for both local and foreign companies.  

Colombia has introduced substantial reforms to its customs regime through Decree 659 of 2024, which brings significant updates to key components of customs operations. The decree impacts multiple players in the logistics chain, including airports, ports, border crossings, importers, exporters, customs agencies, international freight forwarders, public warehouses, and Free Trade Zones, making it more difficult to manage goods that are seized, confiscated, or abandoned at the point of arrival.

One of the most substantial changes is the implementation of the Mandatory Advance Declaration Requirement, which applies to nearly all import operations. Under this provision, importers must submit an Advanced Declaration at least 48 hours before the arrival of goods into the national customs territory. This declaration must be updated after the submission of the Unloading Report with Inconsistencies, but before requesting authorization for payment, entry, release, or inspection of the goods.

Failure to submit the Advance Declaration will result in a fine equivalent to 1% of the FOB value of the goods, not exceeding 300 UVT per transport document. If goods arrive without the required declaration, the importer must pay the fine and submit the import declaration within two days for air shipments and five days for sea shipments. If the declaration is not submitted within these timeframes, the goods will be legally considered abandoned, and ownership will be transferred to the customs authority.

If the Advance Declaration is submitted late, the fine will be reduced to 80%. For the declaration to have legal effect, it must be accompanied by payment of the corresponding fine. If the fine is not paid, the declaration, although submitted, will have no legal effect, and the goods will be subject to seizure and confiscation.

As of May 2025, the new Advanced Declaration requirement is not yet in force, since the National Directorate of Taxes and Customs (DIAN) is still in the process of upgrading its IT systems to implement the new process. However, DIAN expects the system to be operational by the end of 2025 or early 2026. Once enforced, these changes will impact all exporters to Colombia, as well as customs agencies, primary customs zones, importers, and operations involving Free Trade Zones and tariff classifications.

In February 2025, the Constitutional Court declared Article 68 of Law 2277 of 2022 unconstitutional. This article had granted extraordinary powers to the President to establish a new sanctioning and confiscation regime for customs. Consequently, the Court mandated that the regulation of customs infractions and procedures is the exclusive competence of Congress. To prevent legal uncertainty, the Court provided a deadline until June 2026 for Congress to legislate on the matter definitively.

Professional and Service Sector Barriers

In the services sector, U.S. firms encounter various restrictions. Legal services can only be provided by firms licensed under Colombian law, requiring foreign law firms to form joint ventures with local entities. Certain professional services, including accounting, architecture, engineering, and medical services, face residency requirements and economic needs tests for temporary service providers. Additionally, foreign providers of information processing and telecommunications services must establish a commercial presence in Colombia. Insurance companies are restricted from underwriting government-sponsored infrastructure projects due to regulations that do not recognize foreign insurance policies as equivalent to bank guarantees. Furthermore, infrastructure contracts with public entities may include clauses imposing unlimited liability, deterring participation from foreign firms.

Consult the United States Trade Representative’s National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers.

Agricultural Trade

In 2024, U.S. agricultural exports to Colombia reached a record high of $4.5 billion, a 21% increase year-over-year and rising to become the fifth largest agricultural trade market for the United States. This growth also represented the highest rate among the top 25 U.S. agricultural export markets, reinforcing the United States as Colombia’s leading supplier. Likewise, Colombia’s agricultural exports to the United States increased by 8% to $4.4 billion, driven by rising demand for coffee, cut flowers, and fresh fruits. Bilateral agricultural trade between the United States and Colombia continues to drive economic growth for both nations. However, Colombia has implemented a series of trade measures affecting U.S. agricultural imports, derived from protectionist measures and concerns raised by domestic industry stakeholders. These include a prolonged countervailing duty (CVD) case against U.S. ethanol, now closed after the U.S. met Colombian requirements. Colombian authorities have initiated a countervailing duty (CVD) investigation into U.S. milk powder and considered opening a similar case involving U.S. corn, the largest U.S. agricultural export to Colombia. Colombian regulators have occasionally imposed temporary import restrictions on U.S. beef and poultry products, citing sanitary concerns. These measures underscore a trend toward protectionism and regulatory unpredictability in Colombia’s agricultural trade policy.

New facility registration requirements under Decree 2478 of 2018, aimed at higher-risk products such as meat, poultry, dairy, seafood, and eggs, continue as a significant potential barrier for U.S. exporters. While the United States secured exemptions for meat and poultry, concerns remain for the continued export of egg, seafood, and dairy products. Updated procedures released in May 2024, which are announced to come into force on July 31, 2025, continue to present several barriers, including the requirement that foreign facilities be registered directly with the Colombian government by their respective national health authorities.
Food laws and regulations are very dispersed in Colombia, and in some cases, they have not been updated since the 1980s. In recent years, Colombia has worked on updating and implementing new nutritional regulations, such as front-of pack labeling for processed products high in sugar, fat, sodium and sweeteners, maximum sodium thresholds and healthy taxes. In 2025, Colombia has been working on a new draft regulation for mandatory fortification of rice, wheat flour, corn flour and processed products derived from wheat and corn flour. Exporters are advised to review with their importers Colombia’s regulatory requirements for foods products before shipping to Colombia to avoid port delays.     

For more information on U.S. agricultural trade and policy with Colombia, refer to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service webpage for Colombia, and the Colombia Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Annual Report.

Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Registrations

All processed retail food products-whether imported, pre-packaged or in bulk for repackaging-must be registered with the National Food and Drug Surveillance Institute (INVIMA) before being sold to consumers in Colombia. This registration is mandatory for products with a brand and name intended for retail sale and ensures compliance with Colombian health and safety regulations. The product registration process includes determining the product’s risk classification (high, medium, or low) as established by Resolutions 719 of 2015 and 2674 of 2013. Registration validity depends on the risk level: five years for high-risk, seven years for medium-risk, and ten years for low-risk products

To obtain INVIMA registration, applicants must submit a completed application, a certificate of legal representation, a certificate of free sale from a U.S. public health authority, and a technical data sheet describing the product and its ingredients. The registration can be held by either the exporter or the local importer. Holding the registration allows U.S. exporters to more easily change or add importers in Colombia. Most of the process can be completed online, and applicants may expedite registration by including detailed manufacturing and ingredient information. Products exempt from INVIMA registration include unprocessed foods (e.g., fresh fruits, vegetables, grains) and raw materials used exclusively by the food industry or foodservice sector

The INVIMA registration of processed foods requires: (1) completion of the registration form; (2) obtainment of a Certificate of Legal Representation; and (3) obtainment of a Certificate of Free Sale stating that the products are approved for human consumption in the United States. This certificate needs to be issued by a U.S. government (state, local or federal) public health authority. Most of the process can be completed online, and applicants may expedite registration by including detailed manufacturing and ingredient information. Products exempt from INVIMA registration include unprocessed foods (e.g., fresh fruits, vegetables, grains) and raw materials used exclusively by the food industry or foodservice sector.

In May 2025, INVIMA launched a new electronic platform for registering foods and beverages for human consumption. Named InvimAgil, the system will launch in a phased approached in 2025. Although registration is currently optional, it is expected to become mandatory soon. U.S. companies are encouraged to register their products in InvimAgil to receive further instructions and avoid delays when the system becomes fully operational. U.S. food and beverage companies may access InvimAgil and register through this link. INVIMA has not yet announced a final date for the full implementation of the system.

Raw materials, animal products, and agricultural inputs are exempt from INVIMA registration but require a sanitary import permit from the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) and must comply with Colombian labeling regulations. ICA is the authority responsible for issuing sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) import permits for products such as animal goods, fresh produce (fruits and vegetables), grains, pet food, and agricultural inputs, including seeds. Genetically Modified (GM) seeds intended for planting (GM events) must be approved by the inter-ministerial National Technical Committee (CTN-Bio).

The ICA permit outlines the specific zoosanitary and SPS requirements for each shipment. Importers must obtain this permit before shipment, and all export documentation must reference the permit. Products must be inspected by the USDA prior to export and by ICA upon arrival in Colombia. For meat and poultry products, exporting establishments must be listed in the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) directory and registered with INVIMA. Beef exports must additionally comply with the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Export Verification (EV) Program.

For more information on U.S. agricultural export requirements to Colombia, refer to the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service webpage.

U.S. exporters should be aware that sanitary registration must also be obtained for pharmaceuticals, medical devices, cosmetics, personal care products, household insecticides, and similar products. The registration with INVIMA must be obtained before exporting the products to Colombia. This requirement applies equally to both locally manufactured and imported products. While the registration process typically takes between three to six months, exporters should anticipate potential delays due to a significant backlog at INVIMA. In recent years, the agency has been experiencing processing delays, particularly for healthcare products, resulting in extended wait times and possible disruptions in market entry.

For more information contact: 
National Institute for Food and Medicine Vigilance (INVIMA)
Carrera 10 # 64 – 28, Bogota D.C., Colombia
Phone: (+57) 601 242 50 00

Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) 
Avenida Carrera 20 # 83-20, Bogota D.C., Colombia
Phone: (+57) 601 794 4492

USDA Foreign Agricultural Service in Colombia
Email: AgBogota@usda.gov

For more information and assistance with trade barriers please contact:
International Trade Administration
Enforcement and Compliance (TANC)
Phone:202-482-1191
Email: tanc@trade.gov