Colombia’s newly inaugurated President, Abelardo de la Espriella, has formally requested that United States President Donald Trump “temporarily suspend” trade tariffs currently imposed on his country. The appeal comes as the nation grapples with the aftermath of a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck on Monday, resulting in at least 294 deaths and widespread destruction of tens of thousands of structures, according to the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management.
The Colombian leader characterized his recent 10-minute discussion with President Trump as “very friendly and cordial.” During the exchange, de la Espriella emphasized the monumental task of rebuilding the country, noting that he inherited an “extremely difficult and apocalyptic economic situation.” Finance Minister Miguel Gomez has indicated that the government is not currently planning to implement tax hikes to secure the estimated $6.4 billion required for reconstruction efforts.
The request for relief follows a late July increase in US tariffs on Colombian goods, which rose from 10 percent to 12.5 percent. While certain exports like oil and coffee remain exempt, the broader tariff hike was part of a White House initiative targeting many of its trading partners over alleged failures to enforce anti-forced labor regulations. The US remains Colombia’s primary export market.
President de la Espriella, a former lawyer turned politician who secured a narrow victory over leftist candidate Ivan Cepeda in June with Trump’s endorsement, has actively aligned his administration with Washington. Since taking office in early August, he has joined the Trump-led “Shield of the Americas” anti-cartel coalition.
Beyond economic cooperation, the Colombian government is pursuing a strategic military partnership with the United States and Israel. This initiative is intended to strengthen the nation’s capacity to address its long-standing internal conflicts involving various armed groups, marking a significant shift in the country’s regional security strategy.
Colombia’s Finance Minister Miguel Gomez said the government was not yet considering raising taxes to find the approximately $6.4bn needed for reconstruction, local media have reported.