The US will not go ahead with tariffs on Colombia, after the country agreed to accept – without restrictions – deported migrants, the White House says.
Donald Trump had ordered 25% tariffs on all Colombian goods after its president barred two US military deportation flights from landing in the country on Sunday.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro had initially responded by saying his country would accept deportees on “civilian planes, without treating them like criminals”.
A White House statement says Columbia has now agreed to accept migrants arriving on US military aircraft “without limitation or delay”. Colombia says Washington has agreed to treat repatriated citizens with dignity.
On Sunday, Petro had denied entry to US military deportation flights, saying that migrants should be returned “with dignity and respect”.
In response, Trump announced “urgent and decisive retaliatory measures” in a post on his social media site Truth Social, including tariffs and visa sanctions.
Petro responded on X in a post announcing his own tariffs and celebrating Colombia’s heritage and resilience.
“Your blockade does not scare me, because Colombia, besides being the country of beauty, is the heart of the world,” he said.
Within hours, the two sides appeared to have resolved the row. The White House said Columbia had agreed to “all of President Trump’s demands”.
Trump’s proposed tariffs had been “fully drafted” and would still be implemented if Colombia does not honour this agreement, according to the White House.
Trump had also announced visa sanctions and enhanced inspections on Colombians at the border. These will remain in place “until the first planeload of Columbian deportees is successfully returned”, the White House said.
