Ecuadorian ban cuts Colombian trade by 15.5%

BOGOTA, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Colombia's exports to Ecuador fell 15.5 percent in the first seven months of this year due to restrictions imposed by the Ecuadorian government, the Colombian government said on Tuesday.

Trade Minister Luis Plata confirmed that exports to Ecuador in the first seven months fell to 616 million U.S. dollars from 729 million U.S. dollars in the same period last year.

"The restrictions on 1,346 Colombian products imposed by the Ecuadorian government have resulted in a 34 percent decrease in these products’ export to Ecuador,” Plata said.

"We are in contact with the Ecuadorian government in order to achieve an agreement through dialogue," he added.

Colombia had complained to the Andean Community over the restrictions, but received an ambiguous response last Saturday.