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USA and Colombia announce mutual imposition of tariffs after tension around flights with deportees

Bogotá (AP) – United States and Colombia announced on Sunday the mutual imposition of tariff He ordered tariffs, visa restrictions and other retaliation measures against Colombia, a country traditionally considered one of its allies in the hemisphere.

Trump made the announcement in his social social network. He added that the decision of Colombian president Gustavo Petro “puts in danger” American national security.

“These measures are just the beginning,” Trump wrote. “We will not allow the Colombian government to violate their legal obligations in accepting criminals who brought to the United States.”

The rise in tariffs would especially impact Colombia, since the United States is its main commercial partner and the main destination of its exports with a 29%participation, according to official figures.

Hours before Petro had announced from the social network X, formerly Twitter, which disavowed the “entry of American airplanes with Colombian migrants” to its territory, until the US government creates a protocol that treats migrants with “dignity.”

Then, in a second message from X, Petro clarified saying that he cannot make migrants stay “in a country that does not want them”, so he would accept that they were returned in “civil planes”, instead of military airplanes, “Without criminal treatment we will receive our nationals. Colombia is respected. ”

The Colombian government announced that it ordered the presidential plane to facilitate the return of its nationals that were going to arrive hours before on flights sent by Trump with deportees on Sunday, as a way of guaranteeing “decent conditions”, according to a statement disclosed by the Presidency.

Petro made the announcement in publications in X, one of which included a news video of migrants allegedly deported to Brazil walking along a track with his hands and feet tied.

“A migrant is not a criminal and must be treated with the dignity that a human being deserves,” wrote the Colombian ruler. “That’s why I made US military planes return” with Colombian migrants.

The Secretary of State of the US Government, Marco Rubio, told the press that Petro had “authorized the flights and facilitated all the necessary authorizations and then canceled his authorization when the planes were in the air.”

As part of a series of actions to fulfill their campaign promises to end illegal immigration, President Trump is using military in active duty to help ensure the border and carry out deportations.

Two C-17 load aircraft of the Air Force that transported migrants expelled from the United States landed early Friday in Guatemala. That same day, Honduras received two flights transported to a total of 193 deported people.

By announcing what he called “urgent and decisive retaliation measures,” Trump explained that he ordered “25% tariffs on all goods entering the United States”, which would rise to 50% in a week. He said he also ordered “a prohibition of traveling and immediate visas revocations” to officials, allies and supporters of the Colombian government.

“All party members, relatives and supporters of the Colombian government,” Trump wrote, will be subject to “visa sanctions.” He did not say what part he referred or provided additional details about visa and travel restrictions.

Trump added that all Colombians will face improved customs inspections.

The US government did not immediately respond to a request for comments from The Associated Press on aircraft and protocols used in deportations to Colombia.

“This is a clear message that we are sending that countries have the obligation to accept repatriation flights,” said a Government official to the AP. The official spoke about anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the issue publicly.

A state department spokesman said that the visas process was suspended at the US embassy in Bogotá in response to President Petro’s decision not to accept flights, so the affected applicants were notified. While will continue attention for American citizens.

After the announcement of the sanctions and tariffs, Petro said he would remain in position: “But I die in my law, I resisted torture and resist you.”

He also warned of Trump that if he imposed tariffs of 50%, Colombia will do the same and increase import tariffs from the United States by 25%.

“North American products whose price will rise within the national economy, must be replaced by national production, the Government will help in this purpose,” added Petro.

Colombia is the fourth largest crude oil supplier in the United States abroad, with a shipment of some 209,000 barrels of oil last year, although the rise of national production has reduced the United States dependence on foreign oil, by which is likely that the impact on the service stations of the highest tariffs is small.

Colombia accepted 475 deportation flights from the United States between 2020 and 2024, fifth behind Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and El Salvador, according to Witness At the Border, a defense group that tracks flight data. He accepted 124 deportation flights in 2024.

Last year, Colombia and other countries began accepting deportation flights financed by the United States from Panama.

The tension generated reactions from Colombia immediately. The former president Ernesto Samper (1994-1998) agreed with Petro ensuring from X that the treatment that Trump is giving to migrants is “inhuman and unworthy”, while the former conservative president Iván Duque (2018-2022) criticized Petro assuring that Returning the planes was an “act of tremendous irresponsibility” that will bring a cost to the country and its citizens.

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García Cano reported from Caracas. Gabriela Molina collaborated from Quito.

(Tagstotranslate) General News (T) News (T) World News

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