Ecuador Imposes 30% Customs Control Fee on Goods Entering from Colombia

On 24 January 2026, the National Customs Service of Ecuador (SENAE) issued Resolution SENAE‑2026‑0006‑RE, introducing a new 30% customs control fee on all merchandise originating from or shipped from Colombia when entering Ecuadorian customs territory. The measure takes effect on 1 February 2026.

Why the measure was introduced

According to SENAE’s official reasoning, the fee responds to a “systematic omission” of customs exit controls in Colombia. This lack of oversight, SENAE argues, violates the Community Andean Decision 778 on customs control and places undue operational and fiscal burdens on the Ecuadorian State. The new fee is presented as a national security measure intended to:

• Strengthen customs control mechanisms
• Compensate for the absence of Colombian fiscalization
• Protect tax revenue integrity
• Reduce risk in the logistics chain

What the resolution establishes

1. Scope of the fee

The fee applies to goods entering Ecuador from Colombia under:

• The import regime
• Exception regimes
• Other customs regimes, unless explicitly exempt

All goods subject to the fee must undergo physical, documentary, or non‑intrusive inspection channels.

2. Rate and calculation

• A 30% rate is levied on the customs value of the goods (valor en aduana).
• The customs authority (SENAE) performs the calculation.
• The Internal Revenue Service (SRI) handles payment processing.

3. Who must pay

Any natural or legal person importing Colombian-origin or Colombian-provenance goods is a taxable subject.

4. Exemptions

Certain operations do not trigger the fee, including:

• Admisión temporal para perfeccionamiento activo
• Reimportation in the same state
• Devolución condicionada
• Tránsito aduanero
• Reembarque
• Transbordo
• Private tourist vehicles
• Imports related to petroleum, energy generation and similar sectors (list to be published within 5 days)
• Persons not required to file a customs declaration

5. Zero‑rate treatments

Goods benefiting from multiple exemptions listed under Art. 125 of COPCI are assigned a 0% fee, and no supporting fee‑document is issued.

6. Payment requirements

• Payment must be made within the timeframe of Art. 116 of COPCI.
• Proof of payment must be attached to the customs declaration before goods are released.
• Payment cannot be made via credit note compensation

7. Enforcement and implementation

SENAE directorates are tasked with:

• Publishing subpartidas for exempt energy‑related imports
• Verifying compliance with the fee before release of goods
• Updating internal systems and the Knowledge Administration System (SAC)

Implications

For importers

The fee represents a significant cost increase—effectively a 30% surcharge on customs valuation. Companies operating cross‑border supply chains with Colombia may face:

• Higher import costs
• Potential price adjustments
• Need for revised customs planning
• Increased documentation oversight

For bilateral trade

The measure is likely to create friction, as it alters trade dynamics between the two neighboring countries and may prompt Colombian or Andean Community responses.

For logistics and customs operations

The resolution stresses intensified control, suggesting longer processing times and stricter documentation checks.