Quito, September 11 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa described the border situation with Colombia as “tough” as contraband affected both sides of the frontier, as he announced Thursday that new measures to control imports will be implemented along the line that divides his country from the neighboring nation.

“The situation is tough. In Colombia, they have devalued the peso by 60 percent, but we will go forward,” explained Correa during a press conference held in the border city of Tulcan.

The president revealed a series of measures to help the Carchi province and to avoid people from crossing into Ipiales, Colombia, to buy cheaper products.

Correa explained smuggling is becoming an issue, as the difference in prices between both countries widens. To tackle the problem, the president said that foreign-plated vehicles will be charged an international standard price for gasoline, instead of the subsidized price of Ecuadorean oil derivatives.

The head of state revealed that television screens were entering the country without custom import taxes. To avoid this and other situations, the government will reinforce surveillance cameras at the border crossings.  However, Correa clarified that commerce at the border does not pose a threat to the country's economy.

The government is now analyzing a series of special prices for staple products in Tulcan, to equate them to the neighboring Ipiales, which would help avoid smuggling and would boost the local economy.