In a significant escalation of diplomatic tensions, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on all Colombian imports. The move, made via Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, came after Colombia refused to permit two deportation flights carrying immigrants to land. Trump criticized Colombian President Gustavo Petro, claiming that the move endangered U.S. national security and public safety.
The President directed immediate retaliatory actions which include not only the tariffs—set to increase to 50% within a week if unresolved—but also a travel ban and instant visa revocations for Colombian officials and their allies. Additionally, the U.S. plans to implement stricter customs inspections and impose sanctions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
President Petro responded on the platform X by instructing his foreign trade minister to impose a reciprocal 25% tariff on U.S. imports. Petro had previously stated that Colombia would resist deportation flights unless the U.S. established protocols for treating migrants with dignity and suggested that civilian aircraft be used instead of military planes for such operations.
This conflict adds to the growing international resistance against U.S. deportation flights, with recent reports indicating Mexico refused entry to at least one such flight, and both Guatemala and Brazil have voiced criticism. The Brazilian Foreign Ministry even condemned the flights, citing degrading treatment of deported individuals.
Trump’s actions align with his campaign promises to undertake large-scale deportations of undocumented immigrants, particularly targeting those with criminal records. Since his inauguration on January 20, the U.S. has commenced numerous deportation operations. Colombia had previously accepted 475 deportation flights from the U.S. since 2020, including 124 this year, according to local reports, highlighting the tense and increasingly strained relationship between the two nations.
Original Source: https://www.morungexpress.com/trump-imposes-25-pc-tariffs-on-colombia-for-refusing-deportation-flights
Category : World
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Publish Date: 2025-01-27 09:33:00
