Trump feuds with Colombia on deportee flights
Colombia has backed off from a trade war with the U.S., reaching an agreement on accepting deported migrants following tariff threats from President Donald Trump
What happened
President Donald Trump Sunday threatened to hit Colombia with 25% tariffs, rising to 50% in a week, and other sanctions after it turned back two U.S. military aircraft trying to repatriate Colombian migrants. Bogota threatened retaliatory tariffs, but both sides backed off last night, with Colombia saying they had "overcome the impasse" and the White House claiming victory.
Who said what
Colombian President Gustavo Petro initially said he rejected the U.S. aircraft because "a migrant is not a criminal" and must be treated with "dignity," not shackled in a military plane. Trump said Petro's decision "jeopardized the national security and public safety" of the U.S., and the steep import taxes were "just the beginning."
The White House said later that Colombia had agreed to all of "Trump's terms, including the unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens" on civilian or "U.S. military aircraft, without limitation or delay." Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo did not mention the military aircraft but said Colombia had the "presidential plane ready" to "facilitate" the repatriation of Colombians.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What next?
The White House said the threatened tariffs would be "held in reserve, and not signed, unless Colombia fails to honor this agreement." Colombia provides 37% of America's cut flowers and nursery products and 20% of its coffee beans, Axios said, so a trade war may mean more expensive coffee and flowers ahead of Valentine's Day.
-
Why is the Trump administration talking about ‘Western civilization’?Talking Points Rubio says Europe, US bonded by religion and ancestry
-
Quentin Deranque: a student’s death energizes the French far rightIN THE SPOTLIGHT Reactions to the violent killing of an ultraconservative activist offer a glimpse at the culture wars roiling France ahead of next year’s elections
-
Secured vs. unsecured loans: how do they differ and which is better?the explainer They are distinguished by the level of risk and the inclusion of collateral
-
Labor secretary’s husband barred amid assault probeSpeed Read Shawn DeRemer, the husband of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, has been accused of sexual assault
-
Trump touts pledges at 1st Board of Peace meetingSpeed Read At the inaugural meeting, the president announced nine countries have agreed to pledge a combined $7 billion for a Gaza relief package
-
Why are election experts taking Trump’s midterm threats seriously?IN THE SPOTLIGHT As the president muses about polling place deployments and a centralized electoral system aimed at one-party control, lawmakers are taking this administration at its word
-
‘Restaurateurs have become millionaires’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
NIH director Bhattacharya tapped as acting CDC headSpeed Read Jay Bhattacharya, a critic of the CDC’s Covid-19 response, will now lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
-
Should the EU and UK join Trump’s board of peace?Today's Big Question After rushing to praise the initiative European leaders are now alarmed
-
Witkoff and Kushner tackle Ukraine, Iran in GenevaSpeed Read Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held negotiations aimed at securing a nuclear deal with Iran and an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine
-
Pentagon spokesperson forced out as DHS’s resignsSpeed Read Senior military adviser Col. David Butler was fired by Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin is resigning
