Washington/Bogota – The US and Colombia edged towards a trade war on Sunday as President Donald Trump threatened tariffs and sanctions on the country for turning away military aircraft carrying migrants being deported as part of his immigration crackdown.
Colombia, the third largest US trading partner in Latin America, swiftly responded, with President Gustavo Petro threatening a 50% tariff on US goods and soon posting on X that he had directed his trade minister to increase tariffs on US imports by 25%.
Colombia is the second Latin American nation to refuse US military deportation flights. Trump’s punitive action demonstrated his more muscular US foreign policy and his renewed willingness to force countries to bend to his will. He wrote on Truth Social that Petro’s refusal to accept the flights jeopardized US national security.
The retaliatory measures include imposing 25% tariffs on all Colombian goods coming into the US, which will increase to 50% in a week; a travel ban and visa revocations on Colombian government officials; and emergency treasury, banking, and financial sanctions. “These measures are just the beginning,” he wrote. “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!”
Petro condemned the practice, suggesting it treated migrants like criminals. He offered his presidential plane to facilitate the “dignified return” of Colombian nationals.
The US is Colombia’s largest trading partner, with a free trade agreement in place since 2006. However, with trade relations strained, Colombia’s economy could take a hit, with its exports to the US accounting for around 30% of its total exports.