On Saturday, Colombia’s new President, Abelardo de la Espriella, urged President Trump to suspend tariffs imposed on the South American nation. The request comes in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake. U.S. tariffs on Colombian products increased from 10% to 12.5% in late July, excluding items like coffee and oil.
De la Espriella shared: “I urged him to temporarily suspend the high tariffs affecting Colombian products. This relief is essential for our business owners, who are struggling after the earthquake’s impact.” The increased tariffs have been in place since July 24, replacing an expiring global duty that was introduced by the Trump administration earlier in the year.
De la Espriella mentioned he spoke with Mr. Trump for about 10 minutes. Trump expressed his condolences for the losses from Monday’s 7.4-magnitude earthquake. “It was a friendly and cordial conversation,” the Colombian leader said. “I conveyed the enormity of the challenge we face: rebuilding our nation amid a dire economic situation.” CBS News sought comments from the White House regarding the request.
The earthquake devastated western Colombian cities like Cali and Pereira, resulting in nearly 300 deaths and destroying nearly 13,000 homes. A significant amount of debris remains, as captured in images from Pereira on August 15, 2026.
In July, tariffs of up to 12.5% were imposed on 60 nations, including Colombia. The U.S. accused these countries of not eliminating forced labor. The tariffs were enacted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, following the expiration of previous levies under Section 122 of the same act.
The Trump administration’s tariff actions followed a Supreme Court decision in February. This decision invalidated sweeping tariffs initially implemented under a different law, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977, due to a lack of congressional approval.
President Trump has endorsed De la Espriella, a right-wing lawyer turned politician, during his presidential campaign. De la Espriella replaced the left-wing Gustavo Petro, whose administration frequently clashed with the White House. Last October, Petro faced sanctions from the U.S. Treasury Department, and a federal narcotics investigation was reported by CBS News in March.
Since assuming office, De la Espriella has aligned with the Shield of the Americas, an anti-cartel alliance led by Trump. This coalition includes pro-U.S. governments across Latin America, such as Argentina, Ecuador, and El Salvador. The member states exchange information and coordinate efforts to combat transnational crime.
Furthermore, De la Espriella aims to establish a military alliance with the U.S. and Israel, enhancing his campaign against guerrilla forces.