WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/STR/N/12/COL 
6 July 2009 
 
 (09-3300) 
Working Party on State Trading Enterprises Original:   Spanish 
  
 
STATE TRADING 
 
New and Full Notification Pursuant to Article XVII.4(a) of the GATT 1994 and
 
Paragraph 1 of the Understanding on the Interpretation of Article XVII  
 
COLOMBIA 
   The following communication, dated 30 June 2009,  is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Colombia. 
 
_______________ 
 
 G/STR/N/12/COL 
Page 2  
 
  I. ENUMERATION OF STATE TRADING ENTERPRISES 
A. I
DENTIFICATION OF STATE TRADING ENTERPRISES1 
 Fábrica de Licores y Alcoholes de Antioquia2, Industria Licorera de Bolívar3, Industria 
Licorera de Boyacá3, Industria Licorera de Caldas4, Industria Licorera del Cauca4, Empresa de Licores 
de Cundinamarca4, Empresa Licorera del Chocó (in liquidation)4, Industria Licorera del Huila3, 
Empresa Licorera del Magdalena3, Fábrica de Licores del Tolima4, Industria de Licores del Valle4, 
Unidad de Licores del Meta2, Empresa Licorera de Santander3, Empresa de Licores del Caquetá (in 
liquidation)4 and Aguardiente Nariño.2 
 B. D
ESCRIPTION OF PRODUCTS AFFECTED (INCLUDING TARIFF ITEM NUMBER (S) ENCOMPASSED 
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 
Ron Medellín Añejo (aged rum) 2208.40.00.00 
 
INDUSTRIA LICORERA DE BOLÍVAR 
 
PRODUCT NAME HS NUMBER 
Licor Tres Esquinas (rum) 2208.40.00.00 
 
INDUSTRIA LICORERA DE BOYACÁ 
 
PRODUCT NAME HS NUMBER 
Aguardiente Ónix 2208.40.00.00 
Aguardiente Líder 2208.90.42.00 
Ron Boyacá (rum) 2208.40.00.00 
Ron Tunja (rum) 2208.40.00.00 
 
                                                      
1 Not all Colombian distillers operate as or are constitu ted as State industrial and trading enterprises.  
Some form an integral part of the department or are under concession. 
2 Distillery attached to the department. 
3 Concessionaire enterprise. 
4 State industrial and trading enterprise.  G/STR/N/12/COL 
 Page 3 
 
 
   
INDUSTRIA LICORERA DE CALDAS 
 
PRODUCT NAME HS NUMBER 
Aguardiente Cristal 2208.40.00.00 
Aguardiente Amarillo de Manzanares (yellow aguardiente ) 2208.90.42.00 
Aguardiente Cristal sin Azúcar (sugar-free aguardiente ) 2208.90.49.00 
Ron Viejo de Caldas (aged rum) 2208.40.00.00 
Ron Extraviejo Juan de la Cruz  (extra-aged rum) 2208.40.00.00 
Ron Joven de Caldas (young rum) 2208.40.00.00 
 
INDUSTRIA LICORERA DEL CAUCA 
 
PRODUCT NAME HS NUMBER 
Aguardiente Caucano 2208.90.42.00 
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 (sugar-free 
anise-flavoured liqueur) 2208.40.00.00 
Ron Blanco Sun Dry (white rum) 2208.40.00.00 
Ron Santafé (rum) 2208.40.00.00 
Licor Anisado 180 (anise-flavoured liqueur) 2208.40.00.00 
Aguardiente Nectar Club  2208.40.00.00 
 
EMPRESA LICORERA DEL CHOCÓ 
 
PRODUCT NAME HS NUMBER 
Aguardiente Platino 2208.40.00.00 
Aguardiente Platino Deluxe sin Azúcar (sugar-free 
aguardiente ) 2208.40.00.00 
Ron Añejo Citará (aged rum) 2208.40.00.00 
 
INDUSTRIA LICORERA DEL HUILA 
 
PRODUCT NAME HS NUMBER 
Aguardiente Doble Anís (anise-flavoured a guardiente ) 2208.40.00.00 
Ron San Agustín (rum) 2208.40.00.00 
 G/STR/N/12/COL 
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  EMPRESA LICORERA DEL MAGDALENA 
 
PRODUCT NAME HS NUMBER 
Ron Caña Negro (sugar-cane rum) 2208.40.00.00 
 
FÁBRICA DE LICORES DEL TOLIMA 
 
PRODUCT NAME HS NUMBER 
Aguardiente Tapa Roja 2208.40.00.00 
Licor de Aguardiente Tapa Roja Ice (low-alcohol aguardiente ) 2208.40.00.00 
Ron Viejo San Juan (aged rum) 2208.40.00.00 
 
INDUSTRIA DE LICORES DEL VALLE DEL CAUCA 
 
PRODUCT NAME HS NUMBER 
Aguardiente Blanco del Valle (white aguardiente ) 2208.40.00.00 
Ron Trapiche Premium (premium rum) 2208.40.00.00 
 
UNIDAD DE LICORES DEL META 
 
PRODUCT NAME HS NUMBER 
Aguardiente Llanero 2208.40.00.00 
Ron San Martín Añejo (aged rum) 2208.40.00.00 
 
EMPRESA LICORERA DE SANTANDER 
 
PRODUCT NAME HS NUMBER. 
Aguardiente Santander 2208.40.00.00 
Aguardiente Superior (premium aguardiente ) 2208.40.00.00 
 
EMPRESA DE LICORES DEL CAQUETÁ 
 
PRODUCT NAME HS NUMBER 
Aguardiente Extra del Caquetá (premium aguardiente ) 2208.40.00.00 
Aguardiente Sol Dorado 2208.40.00.00 
 
AGUARDIENTE NARIÑO 
 
PRODUCT NAME HS NUMBER 
Aguardiente Nariño 2208.40.00.00 
  G/STR/N/12/COL 
 Page 5 
 
 
  II. REASON AND PURPOSE 
A. REASON OR PURPOSE FOR ESTABLISHING AND /OR MAINTAINING STATE TRADING 
ENTERPRISE  
 Colombian distilleries represent a significant source of income for the departmental tax 
authorities which ensure the sustainability of hea lth services in many regions of the country.  
Furthermore, the distilleries' profits are transferred to  the departments, in some cases in their entirety.  
In short, the reasons for the existe nce of the distilleries are as follows: 
  1. Ease of administration and monitoring of tax payments.  
 2. Profits go to the departments, not to a private entity. 
  3. Resources are invested in deprived areas of the country.   4. Departmental distilleries are subject to  an additional tax which private enterprises 
would not be prepared to pay. 
  5. Job creation.   6. Taxes generated of approximat ely 1,096 billion Colombian pesos. 
 
B. S
UMMARY OF LEGAL BASIS FOR 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 and Decree No. 1222 of 1986 and Law No. 788 of 2002, the departments, i.e. the territorial 
divisions of the country, are independent administra tors of the spirits monopoly, with discretion to 
allocate revenue on the basis of preferential a llocation to the education and health services. 
 
III. DESCRIPTION OF THE FUNCTIONING OF THE STATE TRADING ENTERPRISE 
 The departmental distilleries produce, export and import alcoholic be verages.  Individual 
traders may engage in export and import activities af ter concluding a contract ual agreement with the 
department concerned.  The agreement includes clauses concerning the term of validity and the 
quantity of spirits that may be distributed, as well as the department's pe rcentage share under the 
monopoly of the sale price of the products.  
IV. STATISTICAL INFORMATION 
• TABLE I:  Structure of the Colombia n domestic and imported spirits market 
2007-2008. 
• TABLE II:  Sales of rum and of aguardiente  on the domestic market 2007-2008. 
• TABLE III:  Industria Licorera de Caldas.  Exports 2007-2008. 
• TABLE IV:  Fábrica de Licores y Alcoholes de Antioquia.  Exports 2007-2008. 
• TABLE V:  Empresa de Licores de Cundinamarca.  Exports 2007-2008. G/STR/N/12/COL 
Page 6  
 
  • TABLE VI:  Industria Licorera del Valle.  Exports 2007-2008. 
• TABLE VII:  Fábrica de Licores y Alcoholes de Antioquia.  Imports 2007-2008. 
• TABLE VIII:  Empresa de Licores de  Cundinamarca.  Imports 2007-2008. 
• TABLE IX:  Industria Licorera del Valle.  Imports 2007-2008.  G/STR/N/12/COL 
 Page 7 
 
 
  TABLE I 
 
STRUCTURE OF THE COLOMBIAN DOMESTIC AND 
IMPORTED SPIRITS MARKET: 
 
2007-2008 
 
Millions of 750 cc. units 
 
YEAR PRODUCT 
2007 2008 
WHISKY 4.56 4.75 
VODKA 0.66 0.51 
GIN 0.10 0.08 
BRANDY-COGNAC 0.03 0.03 
IMPORTED RUM 0.51 0.31 
TEQUILA 0.20 0.34 
MISC.  SPIRITS 0.32 0.24 
AGUARDIENTE 67.62 74.34 
DOMESTIC RUM 51.63 42.07 
TOTAL SPIRITS 125.63 122.65 
Note: Excludes data relating to the informal market and products not considered as di stilled spirits pursuant to 
Decree No. 365/95. 
Source : Data from the Fondo-Cuenta  (account fund for taxes on the consumption of foreign products) and the Asociación 
Colombiana de Industrias Licoreras , ACIL (Colombian Distillers' Association).  G/STR/N/12/COL 
Page 8  
 
  TABLE II 
 
SALES OF RUM ON THE DOMESTIC MARKET 
 
2007-2008 
 
Millions of 750 cc. units 
 
YEAR 
Description of product 
(including HS number) DISTILLERY 
2007 2008 
ANTIOQUIA 26.70 33.48 
CALDAS 4.93 4.98 
CUNDINAMARCA 16.41 15.71 
VALLE 9.12 10.78 
BOYACÁ 1.95 1.35 
CAQUETÁ 0.13 0.26 
HUILA 1.70 0.40 
MAGDALENA No sales No sales 
META 0.96 1.02 
NARIÑO 2.07 2.61 
NORTE DE SANTANDER   
PUTUMAYO No sales No sales 
SANTANDER   
TOLIMA 1.58 1.18 
CAUCA 2.0 2.03 
CONSORCIO S.M.   
CHOCÓ 0.44  2208.40.00.00/RUM 
TOTAL 67.56 73.81 
Source : Colombian Distillers' Association ( Asociación Colombiana de Industrias Licoreras , ACIL). 
Calculations: Ministry of Co mmerce, Industry and Tourism. 
 
  G/STR/N/12/COL 
 Page 9 
 
 
  TABLE II (Cont.) 
 
SALES OF AGUARDIENTE ON THE DOMESTIC MARKET 
 
2007-2008 
 
Millions of 750 cc. units 
 
YEAR Description of product 
(including HS number) DISTILLERY 
2007 2008 
ANTIOQUIA 27.62 21.91 
CALDAS 21.02  17.29 
CUNDINAMARCA 2.66  2.45 
META 0.01  0.01 
TOLIMA 0.02  0.01 
VALLE 0.06  0.07 
CAUCA   
BOYACÁ 0.22  0.26 
CAQUETÁ   
HUILA 0.02  0.01 
SANTANDER   
NARIÑO   
NORTE DE SANTANDER   
MAGDALENA 0.05 0.04 
CHOCÓ   
PUTUMAYO   2208.40.00.00/AGUARDIENTE 
TOTAL 51.68 42.06 
Source : Colombian Distillers' Association ( Asociación Colombiana de Industrias Licoreras , ACIL). 
Calculations: Ministry of Co mmerce, Industry and Tourism. 
 G/STR/N/12/COL 
Page 10  
 
  TABLE III 
 
STATISTICAL INFORMATION ON AGUARDIENTE AND RUM EXPORTS 
 
STATE TRADING:  INDUSTRIA LICORERA DE CALDAS 
 
Millions of 750 cc. units 
 
YEAR Description of 
product(s) 
(including 
HS number(s))  Quantity 
exported by 
State 
trading 
enterprise  Average 
procurement 
price 
US$ 
(1) Average 
representative 
domestic sales 
price US$ 
(1) Average 
export price 
US$ National 
production
 1 2 3 4 5 6 
2007 2208.40.00 1.18 2.48 6.45 2.48 119.30 
2008 2208.40.00 2.02 2.22 5.99 2.22 116.40 
Source : Colombian Distillers' Association ( Asociación Colombiana de Industrias Licoreras , ACIL). 
(1) Domestic price (Colombian pe sos)/Average annual exchange ra te - Central Bank of Colombia ( Banco de la 
República ). 
Calculations: Ministry of Co mmerce, Industry and Tourism. 
 
  
TABLE IV 
 
STATISTICAL INFORMATION ON AGUARDIENTE AND RUM EXPORTS 
 
STATE TRADING:  FÁBRICA DE LICORES DE ANTIOQUIA 
 
Millions of 750 cc. units 
 
YEAR Description of 
product(s) 
(including 
HS number(s)) Quantity 
exported by 
State 
trading 
enterprise Average 
procurement 
price 
US$ 
(1) Average 
representative 
domestic sales 
price US$ 
(1) Average 
export price 
US$ National 
production
 1 2 3 4 5 6 
2007 2208.40.00 1.13 4.09 6.46 4.09 119.30 
2008 2208.40.00 1.47 3.81 6.19 3.81 116.40 
Source : Colombian Distillers' Association ( Asociación Colombiana de Industrias Licorera , ACIL). 
(1) Domestic price (Colombian pe sos)/Average annual exchange ra te - Central Bank of Colombia ( Banco de la 
República ). 
Calculations: Ministry of Co mmerce, Industry and Tourism. 
  G/STR/N/12/COL 
 Page 11 
 
 
  TABLE V 
 
STATISTICAL INFORMATION ON AGUARDIENTE EXPORTS 
 
STATE TRADING:  EMPRESA DE LICORES DE CUNDINAMARCA 
 
Millions of 750 cc. units 
 
YEAR Description of 
product(s) 
(including 
HS number(s)) Quantity 
exported by 
State 
trading 
enterprise Average 
procurement 
price 
US$ 
(1) Average 
representative 
domestic sales 
price US$ 
(1) Average 
export price 
US$ National 
production
 1 2 3 4 5 6 
2007 2208.40.00 0.55 1.73 5.54 1.73 67.62 
Source : Colombian Distillers' Association ( Asociación Colombiana de Industrias Licoreras , ACIL). 
Note: There were no exports in 2008. 
(1) Domestic price (Colombian pe sos)/Average annual exchange ra te - Central Bank of Colombia ( Banco de la 
República ). 
Calculations: Ministry of Co mmerce, Industry and Tourism. 
 
  
TABLE VI 
 
STATISTICAL INFORMATION ON AGUARDIENTE EXPORTS 
 
STATE TRADING:  INDUSTRIA LICORERA DEL VALLE 
 
Millions of 750 cc. units 
 
YEAR Description of 
product(s) 
(including 
HS number(s)) Quantity 
exported by 
State 
trading 
enterprise Average 
procurement 
price 
US$ 
(1) Average 
representative 
domestic sales 
price US$ 
(1) Average 
export price 
US$ National 
production
 1 2 3 4 5 6 
2007 2208.40.00 0.26 3.23 5.54 3.23 74.33 
2008 2208.40.00 0.26 2.67 5.31 2.67 74.33 
Source : Colombian Distillers' Association ( Asociación Colombiana de Industrias Licoreras , ACIL). 
(1) Domestic price (Colombian pesos) / Average annual exchange rate - Central Bank of Colombia ( Banco de la 
República ). 
Calculations: Ministry of Co mmerce, Industry and Tourism. 
 G/STR/N/12/COL 
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  TABLE VII 
 
FÁBRICA DE LICORES Y ALCOHOLES DE ANTIOQUIA 
 
IMPORTS 2007-2008 
 
LITRES 
 
YEAR Description of product(s) 
(including HS number(s)) Quantity imported 
(millions of litres)  f.o.b. value 
(US$ million) Average 
import price 
2007 2207.10.00.00 3.20 2.16 0.68 
2008 2207.10.00.00 0.32 0.23 0.72 
Source : 2007-2008 Import declarations, Informa tion Systems Office, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism. 
Calculations: Ministry of Co mmerce, Industry and Tourism. 
 
  
TABLE VIII 
 
EMPRESA DE LICORES DE CUNDINAMARCA 
 
IMPORTS 2007-2008 
 
LITRES 
 
YEAR Description of product(s) 
(including HS number(s)) Quantity imported 
(millions of litres)  f.o.b. value 
(US$ million) Average 
import price 
2007 2207.10.00.00 3.82 2.92 0.76 
2008 2207.10.00.00 4.45 3.59 0.81 
Source : 2007-2008 Import declarations, Informa tion Systems Office, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism. 
Calculations: Ministry of Co mmerce, Industry and Tourism.   G/STR/N/12/COL 
 Page 13 
 
 
  TABLE IX 
 
INDUSTRIA DE LICORES DEL VALLE 
 
IMPORTS 2007-2008 
 
LITRES 
 
YEAR Description of product(s) 
(including HS number(s)) Quantity imported 
(millions of litres)  f.o.b. value 
(US$ million) Average 
import price 
2007 2207.10.00.00 3.46 2.32 0.67 
2008 2207.10.00.00 3.96 2.77 0.69 
Source : 2007-2008 Import declarations, Informa tion Systems Office, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism. 
Calculations: Ministry of Co mmerce, Industry and Tourism. 
 
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