Trump Imposes Tariffs on Colombia After Deportation Flights Rejected and Forces Petro to Back Down
By Julio Gonzaga
In a dramatic escalation of tensions, U.S. President Donald Trump announced severe retaliatory measures against Colombia on Sunday after the country’s government, led by President Gustavo Petro, refused to accept two deportation flights carrying Colombian nationals back from the United States.
The controversy sparked last Sunday when Colombia blocked U.S. military planes from landing, citing the inhumane treatment of deportees. President Petro took to social media to express his dissent, stating, “The US cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals,” and emphasized that migrants should be returned “with dignity and respect for them and for our country.”
Reacting sharply, President Trump used his social media platform, Truth Social, to declare, “I was just informed that two repatriation flights from the United States, with a large number of Illegal Criminals, were not allowed to land in Colombia. This order was given by Colombia’s Socialist President Gustavo Petro, who is already very unpopular amongst his people.” He continued, “Petro’s denial of these flights has jeopardized the National Security and Public Safety of the United States.”
Trump outlined his immediate actions, announcing, “I have directed my Administration to immediately take the following urgent and decisive retaliatory measures: Emergency 25% tariffs on all goods coming into the United States,” with an increase to 50% “in one week.” He also imposed a travel ban and visa sanctions on Colombian government officials and their allies, stating, “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!”
In response, President Petro hit back with his own economic measures, announcing a 25% increase on tariffs for U.S. goods entering Colombia. In a fiery post on X, Petro retorted, “Your blockade does not scare me, because Colombia, besides being the country of beauty, is the heart of the world.”
The day ended with a surprising turn as the White House announced that Colombia had agreed to accept all deportees on Trump’s terms, including the use of U.S. military aircraft. Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, stated, “The Government of Colombia has agreed to all of President Trump’s terms, including the unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on U.S. military aircraft, without limitation or delay.” However, the visa restrictions and enhanced customs inspections would remain “until the first planeload of Colombian deportees is successfully returned.
AP