The opening salvo of the Administration's trade war turned out not to be against Canada, Mexico or European allies, rather a temporary cancellation of Valentine's Day in retaliation for a perceived snub by the President of Colombia.
Sunday, President Trump announced 25 percent tariffs on all Colombian products after Colombian President Gustavo Petro turned away two US military aircraft carrying migrants being sent back to Colombia as part of Mr. Trump’s immigration crackdown. After Mr. Petro provided his presidential aircraft for a "dignified" repatriation, Mr. Trump backed down.
The “emergency” 25 percent tariffs will be raised to 50 percent in one week, Mr. Trump announced.
“Petro’s denial of these flights has jeopardized the National Security and Public Safety of the United States, so I have directed my Administration to immediately take the following urgent and decisive retaliatory measures:
These measures are just the beginning. We will not allow the Colombian Government to violate its legal obligations with regard to the acceptance and return of the Criminals they forced into the United States!”
President Petro said that Colombia would welcome deported migrants on civilian planes. The use of military aircraft amounts to treating Colombian migrants as criminals, he wrote. Mr. Petro noted that there are 15,660 Americans without proper immigration status in Colombia.
Crude Petroleum is Colombia's largest export to the US at $6 billion, according to S&P Global. Coffee and Cut Flower volumes are significant, at about $1.75 billion each. Colombia provides 70 % of US fresh flower imports, according to Asocoflores, the national trade group.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Colombia’s Cocaine production increased 53% to 2,664 metric tons in 2023, or $5.3 billion FOB. Those exports remain, as ever, duty-free.
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