- Region:
- America
- Category:
- Politics
US and Colombia Reach Agreement, Avoid Trade War Over Deportations
In a diplomatic breakthrough, the United States and Colombia have stepped back from the brink of a trade war following negotiations over the deportation of migrants. The tension escalated when Colombian President Gustavo Petro initially refused to accept military aircraft carrying deportees from the U.S., citing concerns over the treatment of these individuals.
President Donald Trump responded swiftly, threatening tariffs and sanctions against Colombia, accusing the nation of jeopardizing U.S. national security. The White House imposed visa restrictions and announced a progressive tariff increase on Colombian imports, which were met with retaliatory tariffs from Colombia on U.S. goods.
After intense diplomatic exchanges, Colombia's Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo announced that the impasse had been resolved. Colombia agreed to accept all deportees returning under U.S. military transport, ensuring dignified treatment for these individuals as per their rights. Murillo confirmed upcoming high-level meetings in Washington to further solidify these agreements, marking a crucial turning point in the bilateral relations strained by immigration issues.
President Trump, commenting on social media, emphasized that the measures taken were necessary to uphold legal obligations regarding deportations and warned other nations against similar resistance to U.S. immigration policies.
The resolution comes amidst ongoing cooperation between the U.S. and Colombia in anti-narcotics efforts, underscoring the importance of maintaining diplomatic channels in addressing contentious issues.