The US will not proceed with tariffs on Colombia after the country agreed to accept deported migrants from the US without restrictions, according to the White House.
Previously, former President Donald Trump had ordered a 25% tariff on all Colombian goods after Colombian President Gustavo Petro barred two US military deportation flights from landing in the country on Sunday.
Initially, President Petro had stated that Colombia would only accept repatriated citizens on “civilian planes, without treating them like criminals.”
However, a White House statement released late on January 26 confirmed that Colombia had now agreed to accept migrants arriving on US military aircraft “without limitation or delay.” Colombia also emphasized that dialogue would continue to “guarantee the dignity of our citizens.”
The White House hailed the agreement as a victory for Trump’s hard-line stance, following a series of threats exchanged between the two leaders on social media that day.
Colombia’s foreign ministry stated that the impasse with the US had been resolved just hours after Petro posted a lengthy message on X, condemning what he described as Trump’s “blockade.”
Petro had initially denied entry to US military deportation flights, arguing that migrants should be returned “with dignity and respect.”
In response, Trump announced “urgent and decisive retaliatory measures” on his social media platform, Truth Social, including tariffs and visa sanctions.
Petro responded with his own tariffs, celebrating Colombia’s heritage and stating, “Your blockade does not scare me, because Colombia, besides being the country of beauty, is the heart of the world.”
Within hours, Colombia agreed to meet all of President Trump’s demands, according to the White House.
The proposed tariffs had already been “fully drafted” and would be implemented if Colombia fails to honor the agreement, the White House added.
Trump also imposed visa sanctions and enhanced border inspections for Colombians, which will remain in place “until the first planeload of Colombian deportees is successfully returned,” the White House said.
Colombia’s foreign minister, Luis Gilberto Murillo, assured that the country would continue to receive deported Colombians, ensuring they are treated with dignity as citizens entitled to rights.
Murillo also noted that Petro’s presidential plane had been prepared to facilitate the return of Colombians who would have arrived earlier on the blocked military flights.
The dispute between the two nations arose after the Trump administration vowed to carry out “mass deportations,” with the president signing several executive orders on immigration on his first day in office.
