After Colombia blocks deportation flights, Trump vows massive tariffs: How much trade do the two nations have?

After Colombian President Gustavo Petro blocked two flights carrying deported individuals from the United States on Sunday (January 26), his American counterpart Donald Trump vowed to hit Colombia with steep tariffs and other sanctions.

“Petro’s denial of these flights has jeopardised the National Security and Public Safety of the United States, so I have directed my Administration to immediately take the following urgent and decisive retaliatory measures,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.

Among multiple severe responses, Trump listed a travel ban on Colombian government officials, 25 per cent tariffs, and invoking sanctions under emergency presidential powers.

US, Colombia bilateral trade

According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, US goods and services trade with Colombia totalled an estimated $53.5 billion in 2022. Exports were $28.7 billion, while imports were $24.8 billion. That year, the US’ goods and services trade surplus with Colombia was $3.9 billion.

The US, which accounts for 34 per cent of Columbia’s total trade, is the country’s largest trading partner, according to the US Department of State.

Meanwhile, Colombia accounted for one per cent of US’ overall exports in 2022.

The US-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA) has been in effect between the two nations since May 2012.

It provided US with significant access to Colombia’s $166 billion services market and its fast-growing base of around 45 million consumers.

Nearly 450 US businesses have investments in Colombia with a large share of US foreign direct investment (FDI) concentrated in the mining and manufacturing sectors.

The cause of US-Colombia spat

On Sunday, Petro said he was blocking US deportation flights until migrants were guaranteed “dignified treatment” in that country.

“The United States cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals. I forbid entry to our territory to US planes carrying Colombian migrants,” he posted on social media platform X.

In a later post, he added that he would allow in civilian US flights carrying deported migrants, as long as they were not treated like “criminals”– a term Trump has used often to dehumanise immigrants.

With inputs from agencies