A dispute regarding the acceptance of flights transporting deportees from the United States nearly led to a trade conflict with Colombia, which ultimately conceded after facing threats of tariffs and other sanctions from President Donald Trump.
Colombia had previously denied entry to two U.S. military flights carrying individuals deported by American authorities, with President Gustavo Petro asserting that the migrants were unjustly treated as criminals.
In response, on January 26, President Trump imposed a 25% tariff on all Colombian imports, instituted a travel ban for Colombian government officials, mandated enhanced searches for Colombian nationals at the U.S. border, and implemented additional banking and financial sanctions.
In retaliation, Petro announced a 25% tariff on U.S. imports; however, both parties reached an agreement to retract their tariffs just hours later. As part of this resolution, Petro consented to accept all Colombian immigrants deported from the U.S. “without limitation or delay.”
The White House issued a statement declaring, “Today’s events make clear to the world that America is respected again,” and emphasized that Trump’s administration anticipates cooperation from all nations regarding deportation flights.
Colombia has previously accepted deportation flights from the United States. In 2024, a total of 124 aircraft transporting deported migrants from the U.S. arrived in the nation.
This situation represented the first significant challenge to Trump’s strategy of employing tariffs as a means of negotiation with countries he perceives as uncooperative.
However, it involved a nation that possesses considerably less trade influence compared to others currently facing similar threats, such as China, Mexico, and Canada.
Colombia’s main exports to the United States consist of oil, coffee, and cut flowers; nevertheless, economic leaders in the South American nation cautioned that a trade conflict with the U.S. would disproportionately affect Colombia’s economy.
