Colombian president asks Trump to suspend tariffs for earthquake recovery

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has appealed to his ally, U.S. President Donald Trump, to temporarily suspend tariffs. The request aims to provide economic relief to Colombia as it grapples with the aftermath of a devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake that has claimed at least 289 lives.

De la Espriella, who assumed office just days before the quake struck, emphasized his connection with Trump, who had backed him in the recent presidential election. He conveyed his request via X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday night, thanking Trump for U.S. aid and asking him to "consider the temporary suspension of the high tariffs that affect Colombian products, in order to provide relief to our businesspeople, who are facing very difficult times due to the effects of the earthquake."

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asked him to consider the temporary suspension of the high tariffs that affect Colombian products, in order to provide relief to our businesspeople, who are facing very difficult times due to the effects of the earthquake.

The earthquake, which struck western Colombia, has had a catastrophic impact. It devastated cities including Pereira, Cali, and Quibdo, with particular severity along the Pacific coast. The government has reported 3,937 injuries and the destruction of 14,705 homes, with an additional 81,536 homes damaged. The epicenter was in Choco, one of the country's poorest regions.

Search efforts for the 143 officially missing people continue, though civilian databases suggest the number could be in the thousands. Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder expressed hope for finding survivors, stating, "Miracles do happen" even after the critical 48- to 72-hour window has passed. The U.S. has pledged $26.5 million in aid, including food, shelter, and medical supplies, according to the State Department. The Trump administration has not yet responded to the tariff suspension request.

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Miracles do happen