Colombia asks US to suspend tariffs after quake
Analysis based on 22 articles · First reported Aug 15, 2026 · Last updated Aug 16, 2026
The request for tariff suspension could ease trade tensions and provide relief to Colombian exporters, potentially stabilizing the peso and supporting the economy during reconstruction. However, uncertainty over the US response and the scale of the disaster may keep investor sentiment cautious.
On August 15, 2026, Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella requested that US President Donald Trump temporarily suspend US tariffs on Colombian products, which had been raised from 10% to 12.5% in late July. The request came as Colombia reels from a 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck on August 10, killing at least 294 people and destroying nearly 13,000 homes in Cali and Pereira. De la Espriella made the request during a 10-minute phone call, describing it as friendly and cordial, and thanked Trump for US aid. The tariffs, imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, were part of broader US tariffs on 60 nations over forced labor concerns. Colombia faces an estimated $6.4 billion in reconstruction costs, and its finance minister said tax hikes are not currently under consideration. De la Espriella, who took office in early August with Trump's endorsement, has joined the Shield of the Americas anti-cartel alliance and plans a military alliance with the US and Israel.
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