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Trump Holds Off on Tariffs as Colombia Agrees to Accept Deportation Flights

January 27, 2025

In a high-stakes diplomatic standoff that nearly escalated into a trade war, President Donald Trump has paused the imposition of tariffs and sanctions on Colombia after President Gustavo Petro agreed to “unrestricted acceptance” of U.S. military flights deporting Colombian migrants, according to the White House.

The agreement, announced late Sunday, resolved a heated exchange between the two nations over Trump’s mass deportation policies. Both countries had threatened new tariffs on imports, with Trump warning of a 25% tariff on Colombian goods and Petro vowing a matching 25% tariff on U.S. goods.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Colombia had accepted “all of President Trump’s terms,” which include accommodating the return of deportees via U.S. military aircraft. “The fully drafted IEEPA tariffs and sanctions will be held in reserve, and not signed, unless Colombia fails to honor this agreement,” Leavitt said.

A Tense Sunday of Retaliatory Measures

The diplomatic crisis began after Petro publicly criticized the Trump administration’s treatment of Colombian migrants, highlighting images of deportees in handcuffs and accusing the U.S. of dehumanizing them. Petro initially refused to allow deportation flights to land in Colombia, demanding a protocol for the “dignified treatment” of migrants.

Trump responded by announcing immediate punitive measures, including the revocation of visas for Colombian officials, a travel ban, and heightened customs inspections for Colombian nationals and goods. He also threatened to escalate the tariffs to 50% within a week if Colombia did not comply.

“These measures are just the beginning,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “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!”

In a countermeasure, Petro proposed using a presidential plane to ensure the “dignified return” of Colombian migrants and instructed his trade minister to implement retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods.

Trump’s Hardline Deportation Strategy

The standoff comes as Trump aggressively pursues mass deportations of migrants in the U.S. illegally. During his first week in office, Trump declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border and deployed military personnel to support deportation efforts. Deportees have been returned to their home countries in handcuffs, a practice that has drawn widespread criticism across Latin America.

Multiple nations, including Mexico and Brazil, have pushed back against the militarized deportation approach. Mexico recently refused to accept a deportation flight for the first time in decades, and Brazil has condemned the conditions faced by deportees.

Despite the backlash, Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the administration’s policies. “President Trump has made it clear that under his administration, America will no longer be lied to nor taken advantage of,” Rubio stated. “It is the responsibility of each nation to take back their citizens who are illegally present in the United States in a serious and expeditious manner.”

Economic Implications

The U.S. imports significant quantities of crude oil, coffee, and cut flowers from Colombia, making the proposed tariffs a potential economic flashpoint. While the immediate threat of a trade war has subsided, the broader implications of Trump’s immigration and trade policies remain a point of contention.

With the agreement in place, the visa restrictions and enhanced customs inspections will remain until the first deportation flight is successfully completed.

Credit: MSN News

 

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