Colombia’s newly inaugurated President Abelardo de la Espriella has appealed to US President Donald Trump to help the country as it reels from a devastating earthquake, requesting a temporary suspension of the heavy import tariffs currently imposed on Colombian goods.
He stated that Colombian businesses are facing severe hardship in the wake of the recent massive earthquake, and that a temporary easing of tariffs is essential to offer them some relief during this difficult time. He shared these details on the platform X, saying he had spoken with Trump for about ten minutes and described the conversation as “very friendly and cordial.” He thanked Trump for the US economic aid and rescue support extended to Colombia, and noted that Trump had also expressed his condolences for the earthquake victims. As of now, the Trump administration has not issued any public response to the request.
As of the end of July, US tariffs on Colombian products had already been raised from 10 percent to 12.5 percent. Reports indicate that this increase applies to most goods, with certain exemptions such as coffee and oil. The Colombian government is hopeful that the United States will respond favorably in supporting businesses that suffered heavy losses due to the earthquake.
The powerful earthquake, measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale, struck western Colombia on August 11 — just three days after de la Espriella was sworn in as president — with its epicenter located near San José del Palmar in the Chocó region, one of the country’s poorest provinces. The natural disaster, described as the worst to hit Colombia in decades, also affected the cities of Pereira, Cali, and Quibdó, along with areas along the Pacific coast. As of the latest figures, approximately 294 people have died and more than 3,900 have been injured. Additionally, over 14,000 homes and commercial buildings have been destroyed or damaged, with reconstruction costs estimated at around $6.4 billion.