US President Donald Trump has declared with fervor that he will implement 25% tariffs and sanctions on Colombia after the nation’s president barred two US military planes which were carrying deported migrants from landing in the country.
Trump asserted that the tariffs “on all goods” entering the US from Colombia would take effect “immediately”; however, within a week, the tariffs would escalate to 50%.
SEE ALSO: Trump’s Chief of Staff limits Elon Musk’s direct access to the President
In retaliation, Colombian President Gustavo Petro proclaimed that he would impose his own 25% tariffs on the US. Petro, earlier on Sunday, denied entry to those US military deportation flights.
He insisted he would “receive our fellow citizens on civilian planes, without treating them like criminals,” because migrants must be returned “with dignity and respect.”
US officials informed the BBC’s US partner, CBS News, that two military planes from San Diego were scheduled to land in Colombia on Sunday with migrant deportees; but those plans were ultimately scrapped due to unexpected complications.
READ MORE: Deported migrants arrive in Mexico, warn others not to enter the United States
In response (to these developments), Trump announced “urgent and decisive retaliatory measures” in a post on TruthSocial.
He stated that the US would impose a travel ban and “immediate visa revocations” on Colombian government officials, as well as their allies and supporters.
READ ALSO: Donald Trump bans transgender women from female prisons for female inmates
“These measures are just the beginning,” Trump added, saying his administration would not allow the Colombian government “to violate its legal obligations with regard to the acceptance and return of the criminals they forced into the United States”.
Petro responded on X by announcing his own tariffs and celebrating Colombia’s heritage and resilience.
SEE ALSO: Enzo Fernández reconciles with Valentina Cervantes 3 months after leaving mother of his two children
“Your blockade does not scare me, because Colombia, besides being the country of beauty, is the heart of the world,” he said.
