Trump Enacts 25% Tariff on Colombian Imports Amid Deportation Flight Dispute
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Synopsis
US President Donald Trump has imposed a 25% tariff on Colombian imports after Colombia denied entry to deportation flights. This retaliatory measure comes amidst rising tensions over immigration policies and national security concerns.
Key Takeaways
- Trump's 25% tariff on Colombia's imports.
- Colombia's refusal of deportation flights.
- Criticism aimed at President Gustavo Petro.
- Immediate retaliatory measures proposed.
- Potential increase of tariffs to 50%.
Washington, Jan 27 (NationPress) US President Donald Trump has declared a 25 percent tariff on all imports from Colombia as a response to the nation's refusal to permit two deportation flights carrying immigrants to land.
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump stated, "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."
He criticized Colombian President Gustavo Petro, arguing that the denial of these flights has "jeopardized the National Security and Public Safety of the United States."
Trump instructed his administration to implement immediate and decisive retaliatory actions.
These actions include imposing a 25 percent emergency tariff on all goods imported from Colombia, which could rise to 50 percent within a week if the issue remains unresolved.
Additional measures involve a travel ban and the immediate revocation of visas for Colombian government officials, their allies, and supporters, along with visa sanctions on members of Petro's political party, their families, and associates.
Enhanced customs and border inspections for Colombian nationals and cargo on national security grounds, as well as sanctions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), were also introduced.
Earlier on Sunday, Petro took to the social media platform X, stating that his government would not accept deportation flights from the US unless the Trump administration established a protocol ensuring the dignified treatment of migrants.
Petro further called for the US to utilize civilian aircraft instead of military planes for these operations.
In response to Trump's tariff announcement, Petro directed his foreign trade minister to impose a reciprocal 25 percent tariff on imports from the US.
This situation adds to an increasing list of international objections to US deportation flights. Recently, the US sent four deportation flights to Mexico, with reports indicating that at least one flight was denied entry.
Similarly, deportation flights to Guatemala and Brazil have faced backlash, with the Brazilian Foreign Ministry recently condemning the practice, claiming that deported immigrants suffered degrading treatment.
During his recent presidential campaign, Trump promised to undertake large-scale deportations of undocumented immigrants once in office.
After his inauguration on January 20, deportation operations commenced across various regions in the US, reportedly targeting individuals with criminal records. According to the White House, over 1,000 undocumented immigrants were apprehended on Thursday and Friday, with hundreds deported using military aircraft.
From 2020 to 2024, Colombia accepted 475 deportation flights from the US, including 124 flights in 2024 alone, according to local media reports.
