Colombia Issues Counter-Warning Against Deportation and Tariff Announcement

Kathmandu, Jan 27:  The South American nation of Colombia has protested the U.S. decision to deport immigrants using military aircraft.
Colombia has refused to accept immigrants deported by U.S. military planes, prompting an angry reaction from President Trump. On Sunday, Trump announced a series of tariffs and sanctions targeting Colombia, a long-standing top U.S. ally in Latin America, according to a report by The New York Times.

The U.S. will immediately impose a 25 percent tariff on all Colombian imports, which will be raised to 50 percent within a week, Trump wrote on social media.

The Trump administration will “fully impose” banking and financial sanctions against Colombia and will implement a travel ban and revoke visas for Colombian government officials, President Trump warned.

Colombia’s leftist President Gustavo Petro has also retaliated against Trump. In one social media post, he announced a 25 percent retaliatory tariff on U.S. imports to Colombia, and in another lengthy post, he stated that these tariffs would increase to 50 percent.

The new conflict arose after Colombian President Gustavo Petro decided to block U.S. aircraft from deporting Colombian immigrants. Petro’s decision challenges Trump’s policy of removing immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally.

Trump responded on his Truth Social platform, stating that the 25 percent tariff would be raised to 50 percent within a week. He also announced a travel ban for Colombian government officials and visa sanctions for individuals connected to the government, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

“These measures are just the beginning,” Trump wrote. “We will not allow the Colombian government to violate its legal obligations regarding the acceptance and return of criminals they forced into the United States.”

A senior administration official said that as of Sunday afternoon, formal orders were still being drafted for Trump to sign. The official also mentioned that the U.S. and Colombia are negotiating to potentially avoid the tariffs.

In a lengthy social media post, President Petro wrote, “I have been informed that you are imposing a 50 percent tariff on the fruits of our labor entering the United States. I will do the same.” He issued this warning in response to Trump’s tariffs.

Despite Petro’s statement, the Colombian government has stated that “active discussions are underway with the U.S. government to seek agreements ensuring minimum conditions of respect” for deported Colombians, according to The Journal.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro wrote on his X account, “The U.S. cannot treat Colombian migrants like criminals,” adding, “I refuse to allow U.S. planes carrying Colombian migrants to enter our territory.”

A defense official stated that two U.S. military C-17 aircraft had diplomatic permission to land in Colombia after departing from San Diego with approximately 160 migrants on board. However, this permission was revoked on Sunday mid-flight. Following Petro’s warning, the U.S. military planes returned to the U.S., as reported by The New York Times.

The U.S. has warned that tariffs and sanctions against Colombia will be imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. This law grants the president broad authority to impose duties and penalties on other countries during an economic emergency. The act has not been used to impose tariffs before, although President Richard Nixon used a precursor to the law to impose a 10 percent tariff on all imports in 1971.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro wrote on social media, “The U.S. cannot treat Colombian migrants like criminals.”

According to data, the U.S. imported $16.1 billion worth of goods from Colombia in 2023, ranking Colombia as the 26th largest import partner, behind Sweden and ahead of Australia. Crude oil accounted for approximately one-third of this value. Other major goods the U.S. imports from Colombia include gold, coffee, bananas, and fresh-cut roses.

In 2023, the U.S. accounted for 28 percent of Colombia’s export value, more than any other trading partner, according to United Nations data. The U.S. exported $17.7 billion worth of goods to Colombia in 2023, resulting in a slight trade surplus for the U.S. Key exports included light oils, corn, and civilian aircraft and parts, as per the Census Bureau.