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Colombia turned away incoming US aircraft for deportation of immigrants. Trump announced sanctions on the South American country, while Bogota responded with 25% tariff on US goods, waging tariff war.
US President Donald Trump (AP Image)
US President Donald Trump on Sunday (local time) announced that he would impose retaliatory measures on Colombia, including tariffs, sanctions and travel bans for the South American country’s refusal to accept two military aircraft full of migrants that were being deported under his massive immigration crackdown.
Colombia, in turn, also responded with a 25 per cent tariff on US goods, waging a tariff war between the two countries.
Trump, who was peeved after President Gustavo Petro refused to accept the US planes, vowed to impose a 25% tariff on Colombian products, which would increase swiftly to as high as 50% in a week.
Notably, Colombia is historically one of the closest allies of the US in Latin America and has a free-trade agreement in place.
What Did Trump Say On Colombia?
Announcing sanctions, Trump said on his Truth Social platform that he would immediately scrap visas for Colombian government officials and President Petro’s “supporters”, while also pushing Colombians to undergo greater scrutiny at airports.
He said that with the denial of landing of deportation flights, Colombia has “jeopardized” the national security of the United States, prompting him to announce sanctions on the neighbouring country.
“Emergency 25% tariffs on all goods coming into the United States. In one week, the 25% tariffs will be raised to 50%. A Travel Ban and immediate Visa Revocations on the Colombian Government Officials, and all Allies and Supporters. Visa Sanctions on all Party Members, Family Members, and Supporters of the Colombian Government. Enhanced Customs and Border Protection Inspections of all Colombian Nationals and Cargo on national security grounds. IEEPA Treasury, Banking and Financial Sanctions to be fully imposed,” Trump wrote in a long post.
“These measures are just the beginning. We will not allow the Colombian Government to violate its legal obligations with regard to the acceptance and return of the criminals they forced into the United States!” he added.
Colombia’s Petro said that he has issued instructions to his minister for external trade “to raise tariffs on imports from the US to 25%”.
“You will never dominate us,” he said in a long post on X addressed to Trump.
Trump, a mi no me gusta mucho viajar a los EEUU, es un poco aburridor, pero confieso que hay cosas meritorias, me gusta ir a los barrios negros de Washington, allí ví una lucha entera en la capital de los EEUU entre negros y latinos con barricadas, que me pareció una pendejada,…— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) January 26, 2025
In the run-up to his election victory, Trump had promised to deport the illegal immigrants, who he termed “criminals”, back to their respective countries soon after taking office. He was sworn in on January 20 and soon after he launched a massive deportation drive.
However, he faced resistance from Petro who was elected in 2022 as the first left-wing leader of Colombia.
- Location :
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
