Less than a week into his Presidency, Donald Trump briefly engaged in his first international tax controversy. And the target was not China, Mexico or Canada – the usual subjects of his Ire – it was Colombia, one of the closest Allies in South America.
Colombia’s case refused to allow two US planes carrying migrants to be planes because they were military, not passenger planes. That was enough to allow Trump to threaten to drop the hammer.
“We will not allow the Colombian government to violate its legal obligations regarding the admission and return of criminals who have been forced into the United States,” Trump said in his press conference.
On top of the 25% tariffs he said he would impose, Trump said the US would introduce a travel ban and “visa reimposition” on its allies Colombia, and its supporters.
But later, the White House said that Colombia has now agreed to accept migrants arriving by US military aircraft “without limitation or delay”. As a result, the US will not continue with the tariffs.
In his first week in office, the US President seemed to be prioritizing big action on getting steps to come on trade routes – even if these promises were a key campaign promise. As if to drive that point home, Trump is now ready to punish nations he deems as insufficiently funding Hard-Line Fitration Colices.
He serves a warning to US talismans and adversaries alike: If you don’t get along with the US, the consequences will be dire.
Colombia has backed down in the tax war, but the strategy is putting the test of Trump’s new treatment.
If being asked in the future leads to higher prices for American consumers, is it a good thing for American society? Will they be willing to endure some of the financial pain incurred to advance Trump’s priorities?
The US imports about 27% of its coffee from Colombia, according to the US Department of Agriculture, along with other goods such as bananas, crude oil, avocados and flowers. Coffee imports alone are worth around $2bn (£1.6bn).
Colombian President Gustavo Petro first responded that his country would accept returned citizens “on civilian planes, without treating them as criminals”.
It is no secret that Petro does not like Donald Trump – he is very critical of his policies on immigration and the past.
In a long response to X, he said that Trump would “wipe out human species because of greed” and accused the US President of considering Colombians “an inferior race”.
Petro continued to describe himself as “obstinate” and said that while Trump may try to “make a deal” with “economic power and arrogance” in short, fight back.
Most notably, Pelro said: “From today on, Colombia is open to the whole world, with open arms.”
This is something that should worry the US President who wants to move immigration. His incoming administration has made it clear that the mission will need to look beyond the Mexican border.
Trump’s choice for Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau, has long argued that “working with other countries to stop the full flow of migrants”. A Sunday Spat can work with many collaborations possible.
Tens of thousands of migrants every year from all over the world, from India to China, heading to the US after arriving in Colombia Gost The Darien Cook. It is a dangerous trip that is often provided by criminals.
In his response to Trump’s actions, President Petro noted that if talks on managing migration through Darien are stopped, “illegal activities will increase”. Those comments could be viewed as an expressed threat to undocumented migrants on the way.
Petro was quick to say that his country will not reject Colombians deported to the US – only that they should receive “respectful treatment”.
Even after Colombia has worked to dissolve the row, it says dialogue will be maintained “to guarantee the dignity of our citizens”.
But these kinds of taxes are a test of will — and they still apply to some nations that don’t agree with US demands. From the looks of it, this is just Trump’s inauguration.