Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Sunday ordered a hike in import duties on goods coming from the United States in response to President Trump’s tariffs and sanctions.
Petro said in a post on social platform X that he has “ordered the Minister of Foreign Trade to raise import duties from the US by 25%.”
“US products whose price would increase in the national economy must be replaced by national production and the government will help in this regard,” the post added.
Earlier on Sunday, President Trump imposed a 25 percent tariff on all goods coming into the US on Colombia and he issued a travel ban and immediate visa revocation on “government officials, and all collaborators and supporters,” among other measures, after the South American country rejected two planes carrying migrants.
“I was just informed that two repatriation flights from the United States, containing a large number of illegal criminals, were denied permission to land in Colombia. This order was given by Colombia’s socialist president Gustavo Petro, who is already very unpopular among his people,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Trump further said that the Colombian president’s “denial of these flights has endangered the national security and public safety of the United States” and that he has “directed his administration to immediately take the following immediate and decisive countermeasures.”
On Sunday morning, Petro said he would deny entry to the deportation flights to the United States as Trump’s immigration plans begin.
“The United States cannot treat Colombian migrants like criminals,” Petro posted on X on Sunday. “I deny entry to US planes carrying Colombian migrants to our territory.” Petro said on Sunday that the South American country would send its presidential plane to Honduras to pick up the Colombians, as the country has refused to accept migrant deportation flights from the United States. Petro has refused.
“This measure is in response to the government’s commitment to guarantee respectful conditions. Colombians, as patriots and subjects of rights, have not been or will be deported from Colombian territory in any way,” the statement added.
Newly appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that Petro had authorized the two flights but revoked his authorization while the planes were in the air.
“As today’s action shows, we remain unwavering in our commitment to end illegal immigration and strengthen America’s border security,” Rubio said.
Petro responded to Rubio in a post, saying he would never allow Colombians to be brought in handcuffs on flights.
“Marco, if officials at the Ministry of State allow this, it would never be under my direction. … I am a man of freedom, not chains,” he said.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said in a Sunday afternoon post on X that Colombia and all countries “should be warned.” “Congress is fully prepared to pass sanctions and other measures against those who do not fully cooperate or comply with requirements to accept their citizens living illegally in the United States,” Johnson said.
