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US, Colombia strike deal on deportations as tariffs, sanctions suspended
The United States (US) and Colombia narrowly avoided a potential trade conflict on Sunday after the White House announced that Colombia had agreed to accept deportation flights operated by US military aircraft.
President Donald Trump had previously warned of imposing tariffs and sanctions on Colombia in retaliation for its earlier refusal to receive migrants deported on US military planes. However, in a statement issued late Sunday, the White House confirmed that Colombia had conceded to the terms, prompting Washington to suspend its planned punitive actions.
“The Government of Colombia has agreed to all of President Trump’s terms, including the unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on US military aircraft, without limitation or delay,” the White House declared.
The statement emphasised that draft orders for tariffs and sanctions on Colombia would remain on hold but could be reinstated if Colombia failed to comply with the agreement.
The statement added, “Today’s events make clear to the world that America is respected again,” highlighting Trump’s expectations for other nations to “fully cooperate in accepting the deportation of their citizens illegally present in the United States.”
Colombian Foreign Minister, Luis Gilberto Murillo, in a separate statement, acknowledged the resolution of the dispute with Washington. “We have overcome the impasse with the US government,” Murillo said, adding that Colombia was prepared to facilitate the return of its citizens with the presidential aircraft ready for deportation flights.
While the Colombian statement did not explicitly mention the use of military planes, it did not refute the White House’s announcement. Murillo also stated that he and Colombia’s ambassador to the United States would visit Washington to follow up on the diplomatic agreements.
The US had drafted measures that included a 25% tariff on all Colombian imports, escalating to 50% within a week, as well as travel bans and visa cancellations for Colombian officials. Financial sanctions and enhanced border inspections were also on the table.
Ahead of the agreement, the State Department had temporarily suspended visa processing at the US embassy in Bogota. Colombia, the third-largest trading partner of the US in Latin America, relies heavily on access to the American market. In 2023, trade between the two countries reached $33.8 billion, generating a $1.6 billion trade surplus for the US, according to the US Census Bureau.
Alejo Czerwonko, Chief Investment Officer for Emerging Markets Americas at UBS Global Wealth Management, explained the stakes for Colombia. “Colombia relies on access to the US market for about a third of its exports, or approximately 4% of its GDP,” he said.
Trump’s stringent immigration policies have escalated tensions throughout Latin America. Declaring illegal immigration a national emergency shortly after taking office last Monday, he has implemented measures such as deploying the US military for border security, banning asylum broadly, and limiting birthright citizenship.
The decision to use US military planes for deportation flights has raised eyebrows. Last week, two such flights transported around 80 deportees each to Guatemala. Mexico refused a similar request to permit US military planes to land with deported migrants.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro previously condemned the deportation flights, particularly the use of military aircraft, and criticized the US approach to the treatment of deportees. “We are the opposite of the Nazis,” he posted on the social media platform X. Despite his criticism, Petro agreed to accept deported Colombians on civilian planes and even offered his presidential aircraft for their “dignified return.”
Meanwhile, Brazil denounced the treatment of its citizens during a deportation flight last week. On Saturday, the Brazilian government criticized what it called “degrading treatment” of migrants after US authorities handcuffed deportees on a commercial charter flight. Passengers later reported mistreatment during the journey.
The plane, originally carrying 88 deportees, 16 US security agents, and eight crew members, made an unscheduled stop in Manaus due to technical issues. Brazilian officials demanded the removal of handcuffs at the stop, and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva arranged for a Brazilian Air Force flight to complete their journey.
This deportation flight marked the second such operation involving Brazil this year and the first since Trump’s inauguration.
