Colombia Reduces Import Duty On Heavy Trucks Powered By Natural Gas, Electric Vehicles

The Colombian government announced last week a reduction on the import duty against heavy trucks from 15% to 5%. The decree 2051 of November 13, 2019 was enacted, also setting the tariff as zero for the importation of electric vehicles. This rate will expire in 2027 and is subject to caps and quotas on the total quantity of imports.

According to the vice-minister of foreign trade in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Tourism Laura Valdivieso Jimenez, the measures are part of the modernization policy of the government, which seeks to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and particulate emissions, in line with Paris Accord targets which hope to reduce greenhouse gases by 20%.

The vice-minister added that Colombia’s National Development Plan also contains a chapter titled “Pact for Transportation & Logistics for Competitiveness and Integration” which outlines the government’s objectives of establishing electric vehicle transportation in Colombia using regulatory and financial levers suitable for guiding public and private resources towards acquisition and use of electric and natural gas vehicles in the country.

Featured photos: Kenworth & Peterbilt fuel cell & electric heavy trucks under development, courtesy of PACCAR