On Friday a deal was reached between Colombia's Government and truck drivers, which ended a 45-day strike that paralyzed transport throughout the country. It includes 27 points, containing improved economic conditions, vehicle maintenance, and working conditions. "The immobilization of cargo transport has been lifted," Transport Minister Jorge Eduardo Rojas told reporters. Trucking union president Orlando Ramirez said the deal "satisfied the needs" of the sector. The truckers strike was the longest one in Colombia’s history.
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The strike, which began in early June, caused sharp rises in food prices, clogged ports and hit exports of the country's high-quality arabica coffee.
The government of President Juan Manuel Santos responded last week to the strike by building up sanctions for striking workers blocking highways, increasing fines, revoking licenses, and impounding trucks. Authorities also doubled the number of soldiers and police patrolling the highways.