Trump Hits Costs, Sanctions on Colombia in Migrant Fight

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(Bloomberg) — President Donald Trump slapped tariffs and travel restrictions on Colombia on Sunday, after the South American country refused to allow two flights of deported migrants to land on its soil.

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In a social media post, Trump said he has ordered an emergency 25% tariff on all Colombian goods entering the US, which will be increased to 50% in one week. Oil, gold, coffee and flowers top the list of exports, according to Colombia’s tax authorities.

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He also called for a travel ban and immediate visa revocation of Colombian government officials “and all Associates and Supporters” and visa sanctions for party members, family members and supporters of President Gustavo Petro’s government.

“Petro’s denial of these flights jeopardizes the National Security and Public Safety of the United States,” Trump said.

Earlier on Sunday, Petro said he would refuse American flights carrying immigrants unless they are treated with dignity and not as criminals. Brazil found 88 migrants on Friday, who were chained and handcuffed.

In a statement on Sunday, Colombia said it will provide the president’s plane to arrange return flights for migrants who will return to Colombia on Sunday, as it considers the military planes used by Trump as humiliating immigrants.

Although many South American countries now do more business with China, the US remains Colombia’s leading trading partner.

Between January and November 2024, Colombian exports to the US reached $13 billion, an almost 8% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Colombians in the US also generate strong cultural ties and remittance flows.

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Colombia is the fourth largest source of foreign oil to the US, surpassing Saudi Arabia and Brazil, according to the Energy Information Administration. Recent data showed that Colombia ships more than 215,000 barrels of crude every day to US ports.

About a third, or 29%, of Colombia’s exports go to the US.

Trump also said in his post that he will improve US Customs and Border Protection inspections of all Colombian people and goods for reasons of national security. He added that under his authority, the Ministry of Finance, banking and financial sanctions will be fully implemented.

Trump launched a new threat when he took office to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China on Feb. 1, which he said would balance trade deals and raise revenue to complete his domestic legislation proposals. During his campaign, he considered creating a universal base tax as a way to encourage manufacturing and business in the United States.

But Trump’s reaction to Petro’s rejection of some deported migrants shows how he sees tariffs as an economic weapon to be used against governments that might challenge his national goals. It sends a powerful message to the world, that even old political allies are not safe if they do not support his goals.

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Colombia has historically been one of Washington’s major allies in Latin America and a major recipient of US aid and military assistance. Yet as one of Latin America’s leading leftist leaders, Petro was on Trump’s wrong side. Petro has flirted with China and criticized Israel over the death toll of Palestinians in their war with Hamas.

“Petro’s response to Trump was stupid and it was a battle he could not win,” said Sergio Guzmán, an analyst at Colombia Risk Analysis. “What is posted on social media has consequences, and it will be a difficult time for Colombia as it will have real consequences for us.”

“It couldn’t come at a worse time for the Colombian flower industry,” he said, as Valentine’s Day approaches.

Relations between the two countries were already at risk after last week, when ELN Marxist militants went door-to-door with lists of the dead in an attempt to seize control of Catatumbo, a mountainous cocaine-producing region near the Venezuelan border.

As a result, Colombia could face being recognized as a partner in the drug war, putting it in the same corrupt category as Nicolás Maduro’s Venezuela – even if the result would be more reputational than financial.

The White House said it had arrested 538 illegal immigrants and had begun using military aircraft to remove them during the administration’s first 100 hours.

—With assistance from Joe Carroll, Walter Brandmarte and Oscar Medina.

(updating all details)

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