Colombia’s President Begs Trump: Pause Tariffs After Quake Devastation
Colombia’s New President Asks Trump to Pause Tariffs After Deadly Earthquake
What Just Happened?
Colombia’s brand-new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, picked up the phone and called President Trump on Saturday. He had one big request: please pause the extra taxes (tariffs) on Colombian goods because his country is dealing with a terrible disaster.
The Call: The two leaders talked for about 10 minutes. De la Espriella described it as "very friendly and cordial."
The Earthquake: A Nation in Crisis
On Monday, a massive 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia. The damage is heartbreaking:
- Nearly 300 people killed
- Almost 13,000 homes destroyed
- Cities of Cali and Pereira devastated
- President calls the situation "apocalyptic"
Building debris in Pereira, Colombia, days after the quake. Photo: Luis ACOSTA/AFP via Getty Images
The Tariff Problem: What Are Tariffs Anyway?
ELI5: What’s a tariff?
Think of a tariff like a tax on imports. When Colombia sells coffee, flowers, or manufactured goods to the U.S., the U.S. government can charge an extra fee. That makes Colombian products more expensive for American buyers.
The Numbers
| Date | Tariff Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Before July | 10% | Global duty under Section 122 |
| July 24 | 12.5% | New rate under Section 301 |
| Exceptions | 0% | Coffee and oil still get special treatment |
The problem: These higher taxes started right as the earthquake hit. Colombian businesses now face higher costs while trying to rebuild.
Why Did Tariffs Go Up? (The Simple Version)
Here’s the backstory in 3 steps:
- February 2026: Trump put broad tariffs on many countries using a law called IEEPA (International Emergency Economic Powers Act)
- Supreme Court said "No": The Court ruled this was illegal—Congress didn’t authorize it
- July 2026: The administration switched to a different law—Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974—to impose new tariffs on 60 countries, including Colombia
The Official Reason: The U.S. says these 60 countries aren’t doing enough to stop forced labor (modern slavery) in their supply chains.
The Political Backstory: A Complete Shift
Colombia’s relationship with the U.S. just did a 180-degree turn:
Before (President Gustavo Petro – Leftist)
- Frequently clashed with the White House
- Sanctioned by U.S. Treasury (October 2025)
- Subject of federal narcotics investigation (reported March 2026)
Now (President Abelardo de la Espriella – Right-wing)
- Personally endorsed by Trump during his campaign
- Millionaire lawyer turned politician
- Joined "Shield of the Americas" — a U.S.-led anti-cartel alliance with Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador
- Plans military alliance with U.S. and Israel to fight guerrillas
What Happens Next?
Colombia’s Request
- Temporary suspension of the 12.5% tariffs
- Relief for business owners during reconstruction
- White House has been contacted for comment (no response yet)
Bigger Picture
- Rebuilding will cost billions of dollars
- Lower tariffs = more exports = more money for reconstruction
- Political alignment suggests Trump may be sympathetic
IMPORTANT POINTS
- 300+ dead, 13,000 homes gone — this is a massive humanitarian crisis
- Tariffs jumped from 10% → 12.5% on July 24 (right after the quake)
- Coffee and oil are exempt — Colombia’s two biggest exports
- New president is a Trump ally — very different from previous administration
- Legal basis shifted from IEEPA → Section 301 after Supreme Court ruling
- Colombia just joined a U.S.-led security alliance in Latin America
Summary
Colombia is reeling from a catastrophic earthquake that killed hundreds and destroyed thousands of homes. At the exact same moment, U.S. tariffs on Colombian goods increased from 10% to 12.5%. The new Colombian president—who was endorsed by Trump and represents a sharp political shift from his predecessor—called Trump directly to ask for a temporary tariff pause. The conversation was described as friendly. With Colombia now part of a U.S.-led security alliance and the two leaders aligned politically, there’s a real chance the request gets serious consideration. But for now, Colombian businesses face higher costs while their country tries to rebuild from rubble.
FAQ
What exactly is a tariff?
A tariff is a tax that a government puts on goods coming in from another country. It makes those imported products more expensive for buyers in the country charging the tariff.
Why did the tariffs go up in July?
The Trump administration used a law called Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. They say 60 countries (including Colombia) aren’t doing enough to stop forced labor in their supply chains. This replaced an earlier tariff program that the Supreme Court struck down.
Are all Colombian products affected?
No! Coffee and oil—Colombia’s two biggest exports to the U.S.—are exempt from the higher tariffs. But many other products (flowers, bananas, manufactured goods) now face the 12.5% rate.
Who is Abelardo de la Espriella?
He’s Colombia’s new president—a millionaire lawyer-turned-politician from the right wing. Trump endorsed him during his campaign. He replaced leftist Gustavo Petro, who had a very rocky relationship with the U.S.
What is the "Shield of the Americas"?
It’s a new anti-cartel alliance led by the U.S. Member countries (including Colombia, Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador) share intelligence and coordinate security forces to fight transnational criminal organizations like drug cartels.
Will Trump actually pause the tariffs?
We don’t know yet. The White House hasn’t responded to CBS News’ request for comment. But the two presidents are political allies, the conversation was friendly, and Colombia just joined a U.S.-led security bloc—all factors that could work in Colombia’s favor.