Colombia’s newly elected President, Abelardo de la Espriella, has requested President Trump to consider suspending tariffs on Colombian goods following a devastating earthquake. The U.S. recently increased tariffs on Colombian products from 10% to 12.5%, excluding items like coffee and oil, starting July 24. This move came as a replacement for an expiring global duty imposed earlier in the year.
De la Espriella emphasized the need for tariff suspension to aid Colombian business owners struggling after the disaster. In a conversation with President Trump, he conveyed the severity of the situation, highlighting the necessity of rebuilding efforts amidst an economic crisis. The discussion was described as friendly, with Trump offering condolences for the earthquake victims.
The earthquake that struck on August 15 inflicted severe damage in western Colombian cities such as Cali and Pereira, causing nearly 300 fatalities and destroying almost 13,000 homes. Authorities are now dealing with the extensive aftermath of this 7.4-magnitude quake.
“I asked him to consider to temporarily suspend the high tariffs that are affecting Colombian products, in order to give some relief to our business owners.” – Abelardo de la Espriella
The Trump administration put these tariffs in place for 60 nations, including Colombia, under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, citing a failure to combat forced labor. These replaced previous tariffs enacted under Section 122. Implementing these tariffs followed a Supreme Court decision that struck down earlier tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 for lacking congressional approval.
During his presidential campaign, De la Espriella received backing from Trump. He replaced the left-leaning Gustavo Petro, an administration frequently at odds with U.S. policies, facing sanctions and narcotics investigation implications. Since assuming office, De la Espriella has joined the anti-cartel Shield of the Americas alliance led by Trump, collaborating with countries like Argentina, Ecuador, and El Salvador to combat transnational crime.
The Colombian leader aims to further align with the U.S. and Israel in military collaborations to support his campaign against guerilla forces.