Bolivia: Privately-owned cement producer Bolivian Cement Society (SOBOCE) has filed a formal complaint against Bolivia’s government before the Andean Community (CAN) for an alleged violation of the principle of fair national treatment. SOBOCE alleges that ‘privileges’ were granted to the National Cement Factory (FANCESA) over its private competitors by the Supreme Court of Justice. Additionally, SOBOCE requested that while the complaint is being resolved, the collection of US$62m related to a fine for alleged unfair competition be suspended.
SOBOCE's statement read “We have formally submitted a complaint to the General Secretary of the Andean Community against the Plurinational State of Bolivia for breaking legal security and for discriminatory treatment against a sub-regional investor. This is not just a simple commercial dispute; it is a complaint about how some within the Bolivian judicial system have manipulated the laws to suffocate foreign private investment.”
