President Donald Trump on Sunday said the U.S. will impose tariffs on Columbia after the South American nation refused to allow a plane carrying illegal immigrants from the U.S. to land.
“I was just informed that two repatriation flights from the United States, with a large number of Illegal Criminals, were not allowed to land in Colombia,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “This order was given by Colombia’s Socialist President Gustavo Petro, who is already very unpopular amongst his people.”
Trump said the U.S. would immediately impose 25% tariffs on all Columbian goods, but will increase that to 50% in a week, presumably if the country doesn’t change its position.
“Petro’s denial of these flights has jeopardized 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:
“Emergency 25% tariffs on all goods coming into the United States. In one week, the 25% tariffs will be raised to 50%.”
The retaliatory measures also include visa restrictions.
Trump and his new border czar, Tom Homan, vowed to round up foreign nationals in the U.S. illegally and deport them back to their home countries, with violent criminals the priority.
Trump also has threatened to use tariffs as a negotiating tactic against foreign nations that don’t cooperate with the U.S.
“These measures are just the beginning,” Trump wrote. “We will 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.”
