The US and Colombia narrowly avoided a trade conflict on Sunday after the White House announced that Colombia had agreed to accept deported migrants transported on US military aircraft.
President Donald Trump had previously threatened to impose tariffs and sanctions on Colombia for refusing to allow military flights carrying deportees, a key component of his immigration policies.
In a late Sunday statement, the White House confirmed that Colombia had agreed to the deportation terms, prompting Washington to hold off on the planned penalties.
“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 said.
It added that draft measures to impose tariffs and sanctions on Colombia would remain “in reserve” and only be enacted if Colombia failed to uphold its commitments.
The statement also emphasised the broader implications of the agreement.
“Today’s events make clear to the world that America is respected again. President Trump … expects all other nations of the world to fully cooperate in accepting the deportation of their citizens illegally present in the United States,” it said.
Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo confirmed the resolution in a separate statement, saying, “We have overcome the impasse with the US government.” He added that Colombia was prepared to receive deported citizens and had arranged for the presidential plane to assist in their return.
While Murillo did not explicitly confirm the inclusion of military flights in the agreement, his statement did not dispute the White House’s account. He also announced plans to visit Washington with Colombia’s ambassador to solidify the agreements through further diplomatic discussions.
The White House had prepared severe measures, now suspended, including a 25% tariff on Colombian goods entering the US, increasing to 50% within one week. These measures also included a travel ban, visa revocations for Colombian officials, and emergency financial sanctions.
Trump had further threatened enhanced border inspections for Colombian nationals and cargo. Earlier on Sunday, before the agreement was reached, the State Department announced it had suspended visa processing at the US embassy in Bogotá.
Colombia is the third-largest US trading partner in Latin America, while the US is Colombia’s largest trading partner. A 2006 free trade agreement facilitated $33.8 billion in bilateral trade in 2023, resulting in a $1.6 billion US trade surplus, according to US Census Bureau data.
Alejo Czerwonko, chief investment officer for emerging markets Americas at UBS Global Wealth Management, highlighted the stakes for Colombia, noting that access to the US market accounts for about one-third of its exports, roughly 4% of its GDP.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro had earlier criticised military deportation flights and vowed not to conduct raids to forcibly return Americans to the US. “We are the opposite of the Nazis,” he said on social media platform X.
Petro added that Colombia would accept deported migrants on civilian planes and even offered his presidential plane to ensure their “dignified return.”