US President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs and sanctions against Colombia on Sunday after President Gustavo Petro blocked US deportation flights, escalating tensions between the two nations.
Trump revealed in a post on Truth Social that he had directed his administration to implement emergency 25 percent tariffs on all Colombian goods entering the United States, with plans to increase the rate to 50 percent within a week. Additionally, the US president imposed a travel ban on Colombian government officials and invoked emergency presidential powers to enforce sanctions.
The dispute began earlier on Sunday when Petro declared that his administration would halt US deportation flights unless migrants were guaranteed dignified treatment. The move has sparked a diplomatic clash, with Trump accusing Petro’s actions of jeopardising US national security and public safety.
Trump, who had pledged to ramp up deportations and tackle illegal immigration during his second term, vowed that these measures were just the beginning. He further declared that the Colombian government would be held accountable for its refusal to comply with its legal obligations regarding the deportation of criminals from the United States.
