Colombia's new president asks Trump to suspend tariffs after deadly earthquake
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has asked US President Donald Trump to temporarily suspend elevated tariffs on Colombian goods after a devastating earthquake killed nearly 300 people.
Colombia's newly installed president, Abelardo de la Espriella, appealed to US President Donald Trump on Saturday to temporarily lift increased tariffs on Colombian exports, saying the move would ease pressure on local businesses struggling in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake.
Washington raised tariffs on Colombian products from 10 to 12.5 percent in late July, with exceptions for a handful of goods such as coffee and oil. The higher rate took effect on July 24, replacing an earlier global duty that Trump had introduced earlier this year.
De la Espriella said he spoke with Trump for about ten minutes, during which the US leader offered condolences for those killed in Monday's magnitude-7.4 earthquake. He described the call as friendly and cordial, telling Trump that rebuilding the country amid a difficult economic inheritance remains a major challenge.
The quake caused severe destruction in the western cities of Cali and Pereira, killing nearly 300 people and destroying close to 13,000 homes.
Trump-backed leader
Trump had backed de la Espriella, a millionaire lawyer turned right-wing politician, during his presidential campaign. De la Espriella took office after succeeding leftist leader Gustavo Petro.
Since becoming president, de la Espriella has joined the Trump-led "Shield of the Americas," an alliance of pro-US governments in Latin America — including Argentina, Ecuador and El Salvador — formed to counter drug cartels. Member countries share intelligence and coordinate judicial and security efforts against transnational crime. De la Espriella also intends to build a military partnership with the United States and Israel to strengthen operations against guerrilla groups.
