Claims persist for the collection of container fees in the Port of Guayaquil

Ecuadornews:

Complaints about the payment, since last July, of a tariff to exporters and importers who use the container yards in the port do not cease.

The fee for these spaces is generated as a result of the modification of a municipal ordinance that obliges them to work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Meanwhile, exporters say that despite a provision of the Ministry of Transportation and Public Works (MTOP) on August 21 and a court order of September 3 to suspend the rate, courtyards continue to charge.

Eduardo Ledesma, from the Association of Banana Exporters, assured that the tariff would already be included in the export and import freight called handling.

But Juan Jurado, manager of the Association of Containers Patios, recalled that they are not regulated by the MTOP and that handling is not included in this collection, but other values for the “marked imbalance” between exports and imports.

He added that the yards have invested between hundreds and millions of dollars to meet.

Despite this, said they chose to suspend the fee between $ 32 and $ 45 plus VAT that was charged from July, to move to a temporary charge of $ 40 per container from 5:00 pm to 07:00 the next day, from September 10.

Ledesma said that today a court hearing would be held for the fee, which would be suspended to allow a period of 15 days for guilds, authorities and courtyards to reach an agreement. The leader spoke of a ‘rational’ charge of between $ 6 and $ 8 per container. (I)

Source: https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/2018/10/11/nota/6994313/persisten-reclamos-cobro-tasa