Colombian President Urges US to Lift Tariffs Post-Earthquake

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has urged U.S. President Trump to pause tariffs impacting Colombia. This plea comes as the South American nation grapples with the aftermath of a devastating earthquake. In July, U.S. tariffs on Colombian goods increased from 10% to 12.5%, excluding coffee and oil.

President de la Espriella reached out via X, stating, “I asked him to consider temporarily suspending the high tariffs affecting Colombian products to provide relief to our business owners who are struggling due to the earthquake’s impact.” The tariffs, which took effect on July 24, succeeded an expiring global duty implemented by the Trump administration earlier this year.

De la Espriella also conveyed that he spoke with President Trump for around ten minutes. Trump expressed condolences over the tragic 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck on Monday. “The conversation was very friendly and cordial,” de la Espriella noted. “I told him that we face a massive challenge ahead: rebuilding Colombia amid an extremely difficult economic situation that I inherited.” CBS News has contacted the White House for remarks on this request.

The quake severely affected the western Colombian cities of Cali and Pereira, with nearly 300 fatalities and destruction of almost 13,000 homes. Images from Pereira, Colombia, show the extensive damage days after the earthquake.

In July, the Trump administration enacted tariffs of up to 12.5% on 60 countries, accusing them, including Colombia, of inadequately tackling forced labor issues. The tariffs are under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. Initially, tariffs were placed under Section 122, which expired recently. The administration’s decision followed a Supreme Court ruling in February. The Court struck down previous tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977, citing they lacked congressional approval.

President Trump had supported de la Espriella, a lawyer-turned-politician, during Colombia’s presidential election. De la Espriella succeeded Gustavo Petro, with whom the White House had a strained relationship. Petro faced U.S. Treasury Department sanctions last October, and in March, was the subject of a federal narcotics investigation.

Since assuming office, de la Espriella has joined the Shield of the Americas, a U.S.-led anti-cartel alliance involving Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador, and others. This coalition facilitates the exchange of information and coordinates efforts to counter transnational criminal activities. De la Espriella aims to establish a military alliance with the U.S. and Israel to enhance efforts against guerrilla factions.