ECUADOR: Local Coke unit fails in US2 m claim

By just-drinks.com editorial team | 29 July 2004

Ecuador Bottling Company, a local unit of Coca-Cola Co. has failed to recoup US$2 m in import costs. The country's constitutional court voted against a petition from the company on Tuesday, which argued that local customs authorities had broken trade rules by imposing safeguard tariffs of around 50% on inputs that the bottler purchased from abroad between 1999 and 2001.

A lawyer for the company claimed that the punitive tariffs violated import regulations governing the Andean Community trade bloc, of which Ecuador is a member.

The company is considering other legal challenges to the ruling.

Sectors: Soft drinks