Colombia Seeks Suspension of US Tariffs Amid Post-Earthquake Recovery Efforts

Post-earthquake reconstruction is expected to cost around $6.4bn, but Colombia has been hit by renewed US tariffs.

Published On 15 Aug 202615 Aug 2026

Colombia’s newly inaugurated president has appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump to temporarily suspend tariffs imposed on the South American nation, which is struggling to recover from a devastating earthquake that has claimed hundreds of lives.

President Abelardo de la Espriella stated on Saturday that he had directly requested the temporary suspension of tariffs levied on Colombia to provide much-needed relief to local businesses.

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia on Monday, resulting in at least 294 fatalities and damaging or destroying tens of thousands of structures nationwide, as reported by Colombia’s National Unit for Disaster Risk Management.

The U.S. recently increased tariffs on Colombian imports from 10% to 12.5% in late July, with limited exemptions for coffee and oil products, while maintaining the U.S. as Colombia’s principal export destination.

De la Espriella characterized his brief 10-minute dialogue with President Trump as “very friendly and cordial.” He emphasized that Colombia faces an enormous challenge: reconstructing the nation amid an “extremely difficult and apocalyptic economic situation” inherited from previous administrations.

According to local media reports, Finance Minister Miguel Gomez indicated that the government is not presently contemplating tax increases to finance the estimated $6.4 billion required for post-earthquake reconstruction efforts.

Following a recent legal setback regarding “Liberation Day” tariffs, the White House announced expanded tariffs affecting nearly all U.S. trading partners, including Colombia, citing non-compliance with anti-forced labor regulations.

The former president endorsed de la Espriella, a millionaire attorney turned politician, during his campaign, culminating in a narrow victory over leftist candidate Ivan Cepeda in June.

Since assuming office in early August, de la Espriella has aligned with Trump’s so-called “Shield of the Americas,” an anti-cartel coalition involving multiple South American nations. Additionally, he has proposed establishing a military alliance with the United States and Israel to strengthen Colombia’s ongoing struggle against armed groups.

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