G/STR/N/16/COL  
1 June 2017 
(17-2941) Page: 1/11 
Working Party on State Trading Enterprises  Original:  Spanish  
 
  STATE TRADING  
NEW AND FULL NOTIFIC ATION PURSUANT TO AR TICLE XVII.4(A)  
OF THE GATT 1994 AND  PARAGRAPH 1 OF THE  
UNDERSTANDING ON THE  INTERPRETATION  
OF ARTICLE XVII  
COLOMBIA  
The following communication, dated 24 May 2 017, is being circulated at the request of  the 
delegation of Colombia.  
 
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I. ENUMERATION OF STATE TRADING ENTERPRISES  
A. Identification of State trading enterprises1 
 Fábrica de Licores y Alcoholes de Antioquia, Aguardiente Nariño, Unidad de Licores del 
Meta2 
 
 Industria Licorera de Boyacá3 
 
 Industria Licorera de Caldas, Empresas de Licores de Cundinamarca, Industria de Licores 
del Valle del Cauca, Industria Licorera del Cauca, Fábrica de Licores del Tolima4 
 
B. Description of products affected (including tariff item number(s) encompa ssed in product 
description ) 
 
FÁBRICA DE LICORES Y ALCOHOLES DE ANTIOQUIA  
 
PRODUCT NAME  HS NUMBER  
Aguardiente Antioqueño ( aguardiente  or sugar -cane liquor)  2208.40.00.00  
Aguardiente Antioqueño sin Azúcar (sugar -free aguardiente ) 2208.40.00.00  
Aguardient e Real 1493  2208.40.00.00  
Ron Medellín Añejo (aged rum)  2208.40.00.00  
Vodka Monteskaya  2208.60.00.00  
Licor de Menta (mint liqueur)  2208.70.90.00  
Licor de Café (coffee liqueur)  2208.70.90.00  
Ron Cream Siboney (rum cream liqueur)  2208.70.20.00  
Ron Maes tro Botero (rum)  2208.40.00.00  
                                                
1 Not all Colombian distillers operate as or are constituted as State industrial and trading enterprises. 
Some form an integral part of the department or are under concessi on. 
2 Distilleries attached to the department.  
3 Enterprises under concession.  
4 State industrial and trading enterprises.  G/STR/N/16/COL  
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  PRODUCT NAME  HS NUMBER  
Ron Maestro Gabo (rum)  2208.40.00.00  
Ginebra Katia (gin)  2208.50.00.00  
 
 
INDUSTRIA LICORERA DE BOYACÁ  
 
PRODUCT NAME  HS NUMBER  
Aguardiente Ónix Sello Negro  2208.40.00.00  
Aguardiente Ónix Sello Negro (red label ) 2208.40.00 .00 
Aguardiente Ónix Sello Negro (silver label ) 2208.40.00.00  
Aguardiente Líder  2208.40.00.00  
Aguardiente Líder sin Azúcar (sugar -free aguardiente ) 2208.40.00.00  
Ron Boyacá (rum)  2208.40.00.00  
Ron Tunja (rum)  2208.40.00.00  
Ron Añejo Boyacá (aged rum)  2208.40.00.00  
Brandy Lanceros  2208.20.29.00  
Crema de Cacao (chocolate liqueur)  2208.70.20.00  
Crema de Café (coffee liqueur)  2208.70.20.00  
Crema Triple Sec (triple sec liqueur)  2208.70.20.00  
Aperitivo Aguardiente Líder Tradicional ( aguardiente  aperiti f) 2208.70.90.00  
Aperitivo Ron Añejo Boyacá (aged rum aperitif)  2208.70.90.00  
 
 
INDUSTRIA LICORERA DE CALDAS  
 
PRODUCT NAME  HS NUMBER  
Aguardiente Cristal  2208.40.00.00  
Aguardiente Amarillo de Manzanares (yellow aguardiente ) 2208.40.00.00  
Aguardiente Cr istal sin Azúcar (sugar -free aguardiente ) 2208.40.00.00  
Aguardiente Cristal XS  (low-alcohol aguardiente ) 2208.40.00.00  
Ron Viejo de Caldas (aged rum)  2208.40.00.00  
Ron Extraviejo Juan de la Cruz (extra -aged rum)  2208.40.00.00  
Ron Carta de Oro (extra -aged rum)  2208.40.00.00  
Ron Reserva Especial (special reserve rum) 2208.40.00.00  
Crema de Ron Cheers (rum cream liqueur)  2208.70.20.00  
Crema de Café Kaldi (coffee liqueur)  2208.70.20.00  
 
 
INDUSTRIA LICORERA DEL CAUCA  
 
PRODUCT NAME  HS NUMBER  
Aguardiente Caucano  2208.40.00.00  
Ron Añejo del Cauca (aged rum)  2208.40.00.00  
 
 
EMPRESA DE LICORES DE CUNDINAMARCA  
 
PRODUCT NAME  HS NUMBER  
Aguardiente Néctar Azul  2208.40.00.00  
Aguardiente Néctar Tradicional  2208.40.00.00  
Licor Anisado Néctar Club sin Azúcar (su gar-free anise -
flavoured liqueur)  2208.90.42.00  
Aguardiente Néctar Tradicional sin Azúcar (sugar -free 
aguardiente ) 2208.40.00.00  
Aguardiente Néctar Premium (premium aguardiente ) 2208.40.00.00  G/STR/N/16/COL  
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  PRODUCT NAME  HS NUMBER  
Ron Blanco Sun Dry (white rum)  2208.40.00.00  
Ron Santafé Añe jo (aged rum)  2208.40.00.00  
Licor Anisado 180 (anise -flavoured liqueur)  2208.90.42.00  
Ron Santafé Nido de Cóndores (rum)  2208.40.00.00  
 
 
FÁBRICA DE LICORES DEL TOLIMA  
 
PRODUCT NAME  HS NUMBER  
Aguardiente Tapa Roja  2208.40.00.00  
Licor de Aguardiente Tap a Roja Ice (low -alcohol aguardiente ) 2208.40.00.00  
Ron Viejo San Juan (aged rum)  2208.40.00.00  
Aguardiente 24  2208.40.00.00  
 
 
INDUSTRIA DE LICORES DEL VALLE DEL CAUCA  
 
PRODUCT NAME  HS NUMBER  
Aguardiente Blanco del Valle (white aguardiente ) 2208.40.00.0 0 
Ron Trapiche Premium (premium rum)  2208.40.00.00  
Aguardiente Origen del Valle  2208.40.00.00  
Ron Marqués del Valle (rum)  2208.40.00.00  
 
 
UNIDAD DE LICORES DEL META  
 
PRODUCT NAME  HS NUMBER  
Aguardiente Llanero  2208.40.00.00  
 
 
 
AGUARDIENTE NARIÑO  
 
PROD UCT NAME  HS NUMBER  
Aguardiente Nariño  2208.40.00.00  
 
 
II. REASON AND PURPOSE  
Pursuant to Article 336 of the Political Constitution of Colombia, the only legal monopolies are 
those established under the law as a means of revenue generation in the public a nd social interest . 
The revenue  obtained  from the exercise of the alcoholic beverages monopoly  is thus primarily 
earmarked for the health and education services . Article 61 of Law No. 14 of 1983 delega tes the 
exercise of the revenue -generating alcoholic be verages  monopoly to the departments . 
 
Under  this legal framework , production of alcoholic beverages by the State trading enterprises is at 
departmental  level. 
A. Reason or purpose for establishing and/or maintaining State trading enterprises  
Colombian dist illeries provide a significant source of income for the departmental tax authorities 
which ensure s the sustainability of public health and education services  in many regions of the 
country . Furthermore, the distilleries' profits are transferred  in part of in full  to the departments,  
as established  by the  assembly  of the department  concerned . In short, the reasons for the 
existence of the distilleries are as follows : 
 G/STR/N/16/COL  
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  1. The productio n and subsequent sale of  alcoholic beverages  generate  direct revenue  
for the  departmental tax authorities . 
2. Profits go to the departments, not to a private entity . 
3. The enterprises  provide the departments with a significant source of income  which  
is invested in deprived areas of the country . 
4. Job creation . 
 
B. Summary of legal basis fo r granting the relevant exclusive or special rights or privileges, 
including legal provisions and summary of statutory or constitutional powers  
Under Article 336 of the Political Constitution of Colombia, Article 61 of Law  No. 14 of 1983, 
Decree No. 1222 o f 1986, Decree No. 244 of 1906, Law  No. 223 of 1995, Law  No. 788 of 2002 and 
Law No. 1393 of 2010, the departments, i.e. the territorial divisions of the country, are 
independent administrators of the alcoholic beverages monopoly designed to generate  reven ue for 
preferential allocation to education and health services . 
 
III. DESCRIPTION OF THE FUNCTIONING OF THE STATE TRADING ENTERPRISES  
The departmental distilleries produce alcoholic beverages for consum ption in the ir own  
depart ment, for distribution  to other depart ments, and for export . Distribution to other 
departments is subject to  their authorizatio n. The distilleries also import raw materials  for 
productio n. 
 
IV. STATISTICAL INFORMATIO N 
 TABLE I: Domestic production of and imports into Colombia of alcoholic beverages , 
2014 and 2015 
 TABLE  II: Sales of rum and aguardiente  on the domestic market , 2014 and 2015 
 TABLE  III: Industria Licorera de Caldas . Exports 2014 and 2015 
 TABLE  IV: Fábrica de Licores y Alcoholes de Antioquia . Exports 2014 and 2015 
 TABLE  V: Empresa de Licores de Cundinamarca . Exports 2014 and 2015 
 TABLE  VI: Industria Licorera del Valle . Exports 2014 and 2015 
 TABLE  VII: Industria Licorera de Caldas . Imports 2014 and 2015 
 TABLE  VIII: Empresa de Licores de Cundinamarca . Imports 2014 and 2015 
 TABLE IX: Industria de Licores del Valle del Cauca . Imports 2014 and 2015 
 TABLE  X: Industria de Licores del Cauca . Imports 2014 and 2015   
  G/STR/N/16/COL  
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TABLE I  
DOMESTIC PRODUCTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES  
2014 AND 2015  
UNITS (LITRES)  
 Domestic production  
PRODUCT  2014  2015  
AGUARDIENTE  87,289,067 63,070,134 
RUM 24,759,453 26,044,144 
BRANDY -COGNAC  1,387,224 1,638,255 
WINE  287,812 318,162 
CERTAIN PRODUCTS CONTAINING LESS THAN 15% ALCOHOL  1,170 240 
BEER 2,016,423,137 2,172,512,625 
APERITIF S 564,637 130,793 
OTHER  ALCOHOLIC  BEVERAGES  204,269 194,993 
TOTAL MILLIONS OF UNITS  2,130,916,769 2,263,909,346 
Source : Data from the Fondo Cuenta  (account fund for taxes on the consumption of foreign products), the Asociación Colombiana de Industrias Licoreras , ACIL 
(Colombian  Distille rs' Association) , and the Cámara de Industrias Asociadas de Bebidas Alcohólicas , CABA (Chamber of Associated Alcoholic Beverage Industries ). 
   
  G/STR/N/16/COL  
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IMPORTS OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES  
2014 AND 2015  
UNITS (LITRES)  
PRODUCT  2014  2015  
Whisk ies 6,150,718 5,801,305 
Vodka 700,798 736,685 
Gin and Geneva  320,372 305,430 
Other spirits obtained by distilling grape wine  - cognac, brandy  22,783 37,453 
Rum and other spirits obtained by distilling  fermented sugar -cane products  1,094,682 1,409,187 
Agave -based spirits (tequila and the like)  833,097 1,076,417 
Crèmes  1,250,464 1,015,512 
Sparkling wine  1,778,384 1,733,561 
Wine in containers holding 2 l. or less  13,691,690 14,304,832 
Grape must with fermentation prevented or arrested by the addition of alcohol  - 4,743 
Other win e of fresh grapes  745,282 365,612 
Grape must  other than that of heading 20 09 260,357 222,942 
Verm outh and other wine in containers holding 2 l. or less  584,219 553,044 
Other  wine of fresh grapes  flavoured with  plants or aromatic substanc es 2 4,908 
Anise-based  spirits   - - 
Other aguardientes  14,969 17,281 
Other alcoholic beverages  4,909,781 3,529,736 
Beer made from malt  25,304,866 41,067,212 
TOTAL UNI TS 57,662,463 72,185,858 
Source : Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística , DANE ( National  Administr ative Department of Statistics ) / Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales , 
DIAN (National Customs and Excise Directorate ).   
  G/STR/N/16/COL  
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TABLE II  
SALES OF RUM AND AGUARDIENTE ON THE DOMESTIC MARKET  
2014 AND 2015  
Millions of 750 cc units  
Year Description o f product  
(including HS number)  National production  Total domestic sales by  
State trading enterprises  National consumption (only includes 
industry data (national , department al) 
2014  2208.40.00.00  107.9 107.9 105 
2015  2208.40.00.00  84.6 84.6 80 
Source : Asociación Colombiana de Industrias Licoreras , ACIL (Colombian Distillers' Association).  
 
TABLE III  
STATISTICAL INFORMATION ON AGUARDIENTE AND RUM EXPORTS  
STATE TRADING: INDUSTRIA LICORERA DE CALDAS  
Millions of 750 cc units  
Year Description of product 
(including HS number)  Quantity exported by  
State trading enterprise  Average procurement 
price  
US$ Average representative 
domestic sales price  
US$ Average export price  
US$ 
2014  2208.40.00.00  0.43  US$2 .1  US$6 .6 US$2.1 
2015  2208.40.00.00  0.78  US$2 .1  US$5 .5 US$2.1 
Source : Asociación Colombiana de Industrias Licoreras, ACIL (Colombian Distillers' Association).    
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TABLE IV  
STATISTICAL INFORMATION ON AGUARDIENTE AND RUM EXPORTS  
STATE TRADING: FÁBRICA DE LICORES Y ALCOHOLES DE ANTIOQUIA  
Millions of 750 cc units  
Year Description of product  
(including HS number)  Quantity exported by  
State trading enterprise  Average procurement 
price  
US$ Average representative 
domestic sales price  
US$ Average export price  
US$ 
2014  2208.40.00.00  3.3 US$6  US$10 .5 US$6  
2015  2208.40.00.0 0 3.5 US$4 .5 US$8  US$4 .5 
Source : Asociación Colombiana de Industrias Licoreras, ACIL (Colombian Distillers' Association).  
 
TABLE V  
STATISTICAL INFORMATION ON AGUARDIENTE AND RUM EXPORTS  
STATE TRADING: EMPRESA DE LICORES DE CUNDINAMARCA  
Millions of 750 cc units 
Year Description of product  
(including HS number)  Quantity exported by  
State trading enterprise  Average procurement price  
US$ Average representative 
domestic sales price  
US$ Average export price  
US$ 
2014  2208.40.00.00  0.03 US$2 .3 US$6 .8 US$2 .3 
2015  2208.40.00.00  0.01 US$2  US$5 .3 US$2  
Source : Asociación Colombiana de Industrias Licoreras, ACIL (Colombian Distillers' Association).  
   
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TABLE VI  
STATISTICAL INFORMATION ON AGUARDIENTE AND RUM EXPORTS  
STATE TRADING: INDUSTRIA LICORERA DEL VALLE  
Millions of  750 cc units  
Year Description of product 
(including HS number)  Quantity exported by  
State trading enterprise  Average procurement price  
US$ Average representative 
domestic sales price  
US$ Average export price  
US$ 
2014  2208.40.00.00  0.28 US$3 .6  US$8 .1 US$3.6 
2015  2208.40.00.00  0.20 US$2 .6 US$6  US$2 .6 
Source : Asociación Colombiana de Industrias Licoreras, ACIL (Colombian Distillers' Association).  
TABLE VII  
INDUSTRIA LICORERA DE CALDAS  
IMPORTS, 2014 AND 2015*  
Millions of litres (1,000 cc)  
Year Description of product 
(including HS number)  Quantity imported  Average import price  
US$ Average representative 
domestic sales price1 
US$ f.o.b. value  
US$ million  
2014  2207.10.00.00  3.1 US$0 .77 US$0 .70 US$2 .4 
2015  2207.10.00.00  1.8 US$0 .74 US$0 .84 US$1 .4 
* Source : Asociación Colombiana de Industrias Licoreras, ACIL (Colombian Distillers' Association).  
1 Source : f.o.b. values and import declarations : Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales, DIAN (National Customs and Excise Directorate ). Calculations : ACIL.   
  G/STR/N/16/COL  
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TABLE  VIII 
EMPRESA DE LICORES DE CUNDINAMARCA  
IMPORTS, 2014 AND 2015*  
Millions of litres (1,000 cc)  
Year Description of product  
(including HS number)  Quantity imported  Average import price  
US$ Average representative  
domestic sales price1 
US$ f.o.b. value  
US$ million 
2014  2207.10.00.00  4.5 US$0 .90 US$0 .70 US$4 .04 
2015  2207.10.00.00  4.1 US$0 .84 US$0 .84 US$3 .52 
* Source : Asociación Colombiana de Industrias Licoreras , ACIL (Colombian Distillers' Association).  
1 Source : f.o.b. values and import declarations : Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales , DIAN (National Customs and Excise Directorate ). Calculations : ACIL. 
 
 
TABLE IX  
INDUSTRIA DE LICORES DEL VALLE DEL CAUCA  
IMPORTS, 2014 AND 2015*  
Millions of litres (1,000 cc)  
Year Description of product  
(including HS number)  Quantity imported  Average import price  
US$ Average representative 
domestic sales price1 f.o.b. value  
US$ million  
2014  2207.10.00.00  2.1 US$0 .83 US$0 .70 US$1 .8 
2015  2207.10.00.00  1.8 US$0 .82 US$0 .84 US$1 .48 
* Source : Asociación Colombiana de Indu strias Licoreras, ACIL (Colombian Distillers' Association).  
1 Source : f.o.b. values and import declarations : Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales, DIAN (National Customs and Excise Directorate ). Calculations : ACIL. 
 
   
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TABLE X  
INDUSTRIA DE LICORES DEL  CAUCA  
IMPORTS, 2014 AND 2015*  
Millions of litres (1,000 cc)  
Year Description of product 
(including HS number)  Quantity imported  Average import price  
US$ Average representative 
domestic sales price1 f.o.b. value  
US$ million  
2014  2207.10.00.00  0.85 US$1 .02 US$0 .70 US$0 .87 
2015  2207.10.00.00  0.77 US$0 .97 US$0 .84 US$0 .75 
* Source : Asociación Colombiana de Industrias Licoreras, ACIL (Colombian Distillers' Association).  
1 Source : f.o.b. values and import declarations : Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacional es, DIAN (National Customs and Excise Directorate ). Calculations : ACIL. 
 
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