The president of the United States, Donald Trump, confirmed this Sunday that plans to announce tariffs for Colombia, after having ordered the suspension of financial aid for that South American country by accusing its president, Gustavo Petro, of being a drug trafficking leader.
On board the Air Force One plane, Trump confirmed to the press the words of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who hours before assured – on the social network the White House prepares tariffs for Colombia.
“I read Senator Graham’s statement and it is correct,” Trump declared.
In his message, Graham revealed that he had had a conversation with the president and that he had explained to him that was going to announce this Sunday or Monday the imposition of taxes for the Andean country.
“President Trump is tougher than any other president in our history and he informed me that he is going to attack Colombia, not only its drug traffickers, but also where it hurts the most: his pocketbook. He will announce significant tariffs against Colombia, today or tomorrow,” Graham wrote.
“Those who continue to be involved in narcoterrorism against the United States will pay a very high price. Well done, President Trump!” added the parliamentarian.
Diplomatic tensions between the United States and Colombia
Diplomatic tensions between the United States and Colombia escalated again this Sunday, after Trump announced the end of financial aid to the South American country, due to its alleged inaction in the fight against drug trafficking, and accused Gustavo Petro of being “a drug trafficking leader.”
Petro, who has intensified his criticism of Trump since he ordered a military deployment to the Caribbean in August, under the pretext of combating drug trafficking, called the White House tenant “rude and ignorant of Colombia” and defended himself by proclaiming himself “the main enemy that drug trafficking had” in his country.
Trump threatened last January to impose 25% tariffs on Colombia over Petro’s refusal to receive two flights of deported migrants, but the Colombian president ended up giving in.
Since April, the United States has applied a 10% tariff base to Colombia, the same as to most Latin American countries, as part of the trade war waged by the Republican leader.
