USA, Washington – President Donald Trump has slapped stiffer tariffs and visa restrictions on Colombia, Latin America’s third-most populous country after President Gustavo Petro turned away two US military aircraft carrying deportees.
“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,” said President Trump.
He observed that President Petro’s denial of these flights had jeopardised the National Security and Public Safety of the United States.
One week after assuming office, President Trump announced that the US will immediately impose a 25% “emergency” tariff on all Colombian imports, which will be raised to 50% in a week.
“So, 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. In one week, the 25% tariffs will be raised to 50%,” said the US president.
Trump shared the notice on his social media platforms, including Truth Social.
“A travel ban and immediate visa revocations on the Colombian government officials and all allies and supporters. Visa sanctions on all party members, family members, and supporters of the Colombian government,” he added.
What are other sanctions imposed by Trump on Colombia
President Trump also announced enhanced customs and border protection inspections of all Colombian nations and cargo on national security grounds.
He also said that IEEPA Treasury, banking, and financial sanctions will be fully imposed.
“These measures are just the beginning. We will not allow the Colombian government to violate its legal obligations about acceptance and return of criminals they forced into the United States,” explained the US head of state.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the Trump administration had made it clear the US would “no longer be lied to nor taken advantage of.”
“It is the responsibility of each nation to take back their citizens who are illegally present in the United States seriously and expeditiously,” Rubio said in a statement posted on X.
How President Gustavo Petro fired back at Trump
However, Rubio said in a later statement that he had ordered the suspension of visa issuances at the US Embassy in Bogota.
Petro announced earlier that he had refused the deportation flights to send a message that the US “cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals.”.
“I cannot allow migrants to remain in a country that does not want them, but if that country sends them back, it must be with dignity and respect for them and for our country,” he said in a post on X that included news footage showing deportees in Brazil at an airport with their hands and feet restrained.
