Earlier on January 26, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs and sanctions on Colombia for refusing to accept military flights carrying Colombians deported from the US as part of his comprehensive immigration crackdown.
The sanctions threatened by the US against Colombia include a 25% tariff on all Colombian goods imported into the US, which will increase to 50% in one week; a travel ban and visa revocation for Colombian government officials; and emergency treasury, banking and financial sanctions. Mr. Trump also threatened to order increased border checks on Colombian citizens and goods.
However, in a statement late on January 26, the White House confirmed that Colombia had agreed to accept the migrants and that Washington would not impose sanctions.
"The Colombian government agrees to all of President Trump's terms, including unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens returning to Colombia from the United States, including those on U.S. military aircraft, without restrictions or delays," the White House statement said.
The White House also said that all draft orders imposing tariffs and sanctions on Colombia "will be withheld and not signed into law, unless Colombia fails to honor this agreement."
"Today's events make it clear to the world that America is respected again. President Trump expects all other countries in the world to cooperate fully in accepting their citizens who are residing illegally in the United States and are being deported," the statement emphasized.
In a statement late on January 26, Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo confirmed: "We have overcome the impasse with the US government. The Colombian government has prepared the presidential plane to facilitate the return of Colombians to the country this morning on deportation flights." Foreign Minister Murillo and the Colombian Ambassador to the US will travel to Washington in the coming days for talks, according to Reuters.
Colombia is the US's third-largest trading partner in Latin America. The US is Colombia's largest trading partner, with two-way trade reaching $33.8 billion in 2023 and a US trade surplus of $1.6 billion, according to US data.
