Trump Slaps 25% Tariff on Colombia for Refusing to Accept US Deportation Flights
President Donald Trump has announced retaliatory tariffs on Colombia in response to the country’s refusal to accept US military deportation flights. This move marks the first instance of Trump using economic pressure to force other nations to comply with his mass deportation plans since taking office on Monday, January 20, 2025.
The tensions began when Colombian President Gustavo Petro blocked two US military flights carrying migrants, stating that he would only accept repatriated citizens on civilian planes, “without treating them like criminals.” Petro also left the door open to receiving migrants on civilian planes, but Trump responded with a slew of sanctions and policies targeting Colombia.
These measures include a 25% tariff on all imports from Colombia, a travel ban for Colombian citizens, and a revocation of visas for Colombian officials in the US. Trump also ordered stricter inspections of cargo shipments from Colombia, along with banking and finance sanctions, and visa sanctions on “all Party Members, Family Members, and Supporters of the Colombian Government.”
In a statement on Truth Social, Trump warned that “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!”
The Trump administration was caught off in guard by Colombia’s rejection of the military flights, with an administration official stating that “you can’t go out there and publicly defy us in that way. We’re going to make sure the world knows they can’t get away with being nonserious and deceptive.”
Colombia is not a major trading partner with the US, with exports valued at around $14 billion in 2023. However, the tariffs could still have an impact on American consumers, particularly when it comes to coffee prices, which have already risen significantly over the past year.
Economists generally view tariffs as an inflationary measure that can ignite trade wars, leading to higher prices. However, Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, has argued that if tariffs help with national security and cause a little bit of inflation, people should “get over it.”
The situation is ongoing, with discussions between US and Colombian officials continuing. Trump has also threatened to impose across-the-board tariffs on other countries as soon as this week if their goods aren’t manufactured in the United States.
