Colombian President Asks Trump to Suspend Tariffs After Earthquake

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has appealed to his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, to temporarily suspend tariffs on Colombian products. The request follows a devastating earthquake that struck Colombia earlier in the week, causing widespread damage and loss of life.

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I asked him to consider the temporary suspension of the high tariffs that affect Colombian products, in order to relieve our entrepreneurs, who are going through a very difficult time due to the effects of the earthquake.

President de la Espriella stated that he asked Trump to "consider the temporary suspension of the high tariffs that affect Colombian products, in order to relieve our entrepreneurs, who are going through a very difficult time due to the effects of the earthquake." The tariffs on Colombian goods, excluding items like coffee and oil, were raised from 10% to 12.5% at the end of July. This increase came into effect on July 24, replacing a global tariff that had been established earlier in the year.

De la Espriella described his conversation with Trump as "very friendly and cordial," noting that Trump offered his condolences for the nearly 300 deaths and significant number of injuries and disappearances caused by the magnitude 7.4 earthquake. The president acknowledged the immense challenge of rebuilding Colombia amidst a difficult economic situation he inherited. The earthquake devastated the western cities of Cali and Pereira, destroying approximately 13,000 homes and leaving thousands injured or missing.

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The conversation was very friendly and cordial.

Trump had previously supported de la Espriella, a millionaire lawyer, during his presidential campaign. Since taking office, de la Espriella, who succeeded former President Gustavo Petro, has joined the "Shield of the Americas," an anti-cartel alliance led by Trump. This alliance, comprising pro-U.S. governments in Latin America, focuses on information exchange and coordinated judicial and security efforts against transnational crime. De la Espriella also plans to forge a military alliance with the United States and Israel to bolster his campaign against guerrilla groups.

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I told him that we have an immense challenge ahead of us: to rebuild Colombia in the midst of the extremely difficult and apocalyptic economic situation I inherited.