The tariff war between Ecuador and Colombia is unleashed. The government of Gustavo Petro responded to the offensive Daniel Noboa, confirming rates of 30% on 20 products from its neighboring country, in addition to suspending the sale of electricity.
Previously, Noboa had confirmed the implementation of 30% tariffs on materials from Colombia, in response to alleged lack of collaboration on mutual security issues.
Colombia responds to Ecuador’s tariffs
According to Infobae, the tax measure was announced by the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism of the ‘coffee’ country, Diana Marcela Morales, who said: “The measure is adopted as a temporary instrument aimed at reestablishing the balance of the conditions of exchange.”
“This tax does not constitute a sanction or a confrontation measure, but a corrective action aimed at restoring the balance of exchange and to protect the national productive apparatus against external distortions,” he added.
The Colombian measure to suspend the sale of electricity to its neighboring country also resonated, an issue that was confirmed by the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
“It is a preventive measure aimed at protecting the sovereignty and energy security of the country, in a context marked by climate variability and early warnings about a possible transition towards a new El Niño phenomenon,” explained Minister Edwin Palma.
“We continue to believe in energy integration and dialogue between brother peoples. However, current conditions, both energy and commercial, do not allow international electricity transactions to be maintained without putting national supply at risk,” he added.
The Government of Colombia announced the application of a 30% tax on the import of 20 products from Ecuador, as a proportional, temporary and reviewable response to the alteration of bilateral trade conditions.
The Minister of Commerce,… pic.twitter.com/CA9qgPCrQW
— MinComercio Colombia (@MincomercioCo) January 22, 2026
Early on Wednesday, Daniel Noboa had stated that his tariff offensive was due to a lack of cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking from Colombia.
“We have made real efforts to cooperate with Colombia, even with a trade deficit that exceeds 1 billion dollars annually,” Noboa began by pointing out.
“But while we have insisted on dialogue, our military continues to confront criminal groups tied to drug trafficking on the border without any cooperation,” he added.
“Therefore, in the absence of reciprocity and firm actions, “Ecuador will apply a security rate of 30% to imports from Colombia from February 1st,” he concluded.
