Colombia’s President Requests Tariff Suspension Amid Earthquake Aftermath

On Saturday, Colombia’s newly elected President Abelardo de la Espriella appealed to President Trump to suspend tariffs impacting Colombia in the wake of a devastating earthquake. Recently, U.S. tariffs on Colombian goods increased from 10% to 12.5%, excluding coffee and oil. De la Espriella communicated his request on X, seeking temporary relief for Colombian businesses struggling after the natural disaster.

These tariffs took effect on July 24 after former global duties imposed by the Trump administration expired. De la Espriella engaged in a brief conversation with Trump, where he expressed condolences for the victims of the recent 7.4-magnitude earthquake. Describing the interaction as friendly, De la Espriella outlined the challenges of rebuilding Colombia amid dire economic conditions.

The earthquake significantly impacted the western Colombian cities of Cali and Pereira, resulting in nearly 300 casualties and destroying approximately 13,000 homes. Images from Pereira on August 15, 2026, show extensive debris days after the disaster.

In July, the Trump administration implemented tariffs reaching up to 12.5% on 60 countries, including Colombia, citing concerns over forced labor. These are under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, replacing earlier tariffs under Section 122 of the same act, following a Supreme Court ruling against earlier tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977.

Trump supported De la Espriella, a millionaire lawyer-turned-politician, during his presidential campaign. De la Espriella’s predecessor, Gustavo Petro, had frequent disagreements with the White House and faced U.S. Treasury sanctions and a narcotics investigation.

Since assuming office, De la Espriella has joined the Shield of the Americas, an anti-cartel coalition led by Trump and involving pro-U.S. governments in Latin America. Member nations collaborate on judicial and security measures against transnational crime. De la Espriella aims to establish a military alliance with the U.S. and Israel to intensify efforts against guerrilla forces.