US tariffs on Colombia put on hold following agreement
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Colombia accepts to receive deported migrants transported aboard US military aircraft.
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Colombian President Gustavo Petro attends a swearing-in ceremony for the newly appointed attorney general at the Presidential Palace in Bogota, Colombia, on March 22, 2024. (AP)
The United States and Colombia narrowly avoided the escalation of a potential trade war on Sunday after the White House announced that Colombia had agreed to accept deported migrants transported aboard US military aircraft.
Following tariff threats by the US and reciprocal moves by Colombia, the two sides managed to arrive at an agreement. The Trump administration has begun to deport migrants aboard aircraft to Latin American countries, a key element of its aggressive immigration crackdown, but Colombia refused to accept military flights carrying deportees
The White House announced late Sunday that Colombia had agreed to accept the deported migrants, prompting Washington to withdraw its previously threatened penalties.
"The Government of Colombia has agreed to all of President Trump’s terms, including the unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on U.S. military aircraft, without limitation or delay," it said.
The statement further noted that draft orders imposing tariffs and sanctions on Colombia would be "held in reserve and not signed unless Colombia fails to honor this agreement."
The White House statement said, "Today’s events make clear to the world that America is respected again. President Trump ... expects all other nations of the world to fully cooperate in accepting the deportation of their citizens illegally present in the United States."
In a statement issued late Sunday, Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo declared, "We have overcome the impasse with the U.S. government."
"The government of Colombia ... has the presidential plane ready to facilitate the return of Colombians who were going to arrive in the country this morning on deportation flights."
Colombia turned away two US military planes carrying migrants earlier on Sunday, deported as part of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.
Petro denounced the US move, claiming it treated migrants as criminals. In a post on X, he said his country would welcome deported migrants back on civilian flights, asserting that they should be treated with decency.
