La Paz, June 6 (RHC)-- Bolivian President Evo Morales has criticized the government of neighbor Chile due to an increase in export rates in the port of Antofagasta, through which all Bolivian imports enter paying lower taxes.

The reaction came after executives of the Port of Antofagasta told Bolivian exporters they would increased tariffs and other measures that limit trade of Bolivian cargo through the Chilean port.

The Bolivian president said it was an "unfair and discriminatory decision," since Chile is violating a 1904 treaty that was signed to lower the costs of Bolivian imports.

Bolivian Deputy Foreign Minister Juan Carlos Alurralde said it was "a flagrant violation of international law, imposing requirements for advance payments and even require bank guarantees to provide services."

Bolivia has presented several legal arguments to the International Court of Justice over its bid to recuperate sovereign access to its former Pacific coast, which was lost to neighboring Chile in the 1879 War of the Pacific.

The Bolivian government hopes to gain sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean, in order to import and export goods and raw materials without paying costly tariffs to neighboring Chile and Peru.