Colombian Government and Truckers Reach Agreement to Lift Blockades

Representatives of truckers⁢ and carriers who were protesting the increase in the price of diesel ⁣and the Colombian ‍Government have reached​ an agreement to lift the blockades they had been carrying out since Monday on several roads in the country and the exits from Bogotá.

The Minister of⁤ Transport of Colombia, María Constanza García, reported that a commitment was signed with cargo carriers to implement a progressive increase ⁢in the price of diesel, which was announced by the Government​ in August and began to take effect on Saturday.

Key Points of the Agreement

• A progressive increase in the price⁢ of diesel
• No additional increases until structural transformations are carried out in the sector
• Establishment of technical tables to ​allow regulatory adjustments to be made

Truck drivers and drivers of⁢ other types of vehicles had been protesting ⁣all week against the increase announced at the end of August by the Minister of Finance, Ricardo Bonilla, in the price of diesel of 6,000 pesos (about $1.44) between ‍this year and next, which will‌ be done in three semiannual⁢ increases of 2,000 pesos‌ (0.48 dollars) each.

The⁣ current price of‍ a gallon of diesel is, on ​average, 11,360 pesos (about $2.73). According to ⁣the Government, if inflation was taken into account since January 1, 2020, the cost of⁤ this fuel should be around 13,200 pesos (about 3.18 ​dollars) today.

The agreement ‌includes an increase of 800 pesos ⁣(about $0.19), which will be implemented in two steps: an increase of 400 pesos now and another 400 on December 1.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro expressed his satisfaction with the agreement, stating, “We ⁢have solved the trucker strike faster than ⁣they thought and in the best way. Congratulations to the small truckers who knew how to put their demand agenda as priority and not strange‍ agendas. We will comply with them.”