A potential trade war between the US and Colombia was averted after Colombia agreed to accept US deportation flights carrying migrants. This decision came after a dispute over the treatment of deported Colombians.

The conflict began when President Gustavo Petro stopped two US military planes from landing, which were carrying Colombian migrants deported from the US. In response, the Trump administration threatened to impose heavy tariffs on Colombian goods, which would have affected trade between the two nations.

Initially, President Petro said Colombia would retaliate by imposing tariffs on US imports. However, the White House soon announced that Colombia had agreed to allow US deportation flights carrying migrants to land “without limitation or delay.” The US government considered this agreement a win for Trump’s tough immigration policies.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt praised the deal, emphasizing that the threat of tariffs would only be activated if Colombia failed to uphold the agreement. She also stressed that Trump expected all countries to cooperate in the deportation of illegal immigrants from the US.

The dispute escalated quickly when President Petro took to social media, criticizing the US for treating Colombian migrants unfairly. He refused to allow deportees to return in handcuffs and suggested sending Colombia’s presidential plane to bring the migrants back.

While Colombia had previously accepted US deportation flights, Petro objected to military planes being used for this purpose. His concern stemmed from reports of deportees being mistreated, including being handcuffed and restrained during flights to Brazil.

The standoff reached a peak when President Trump publicly criticized Petro’s actions on social media, accusing him of jeopardizing US national security. Trump then announced his intention to impose a 25% tariff on all Colombian goods, with the potential to raise it to 50% if Colombia did not comply within a week. He also revoked the visas of Colombian officials and imposed a travel ban.

Despite the tensions, diplomatic efforts helped ease the situation. Colombia’s Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo confirmed that the two countries had resolved the issue, and Colombia would allow the deportation flights to land. He also reiterated Colombia’s offer to send its own plane to transport the deportees.

This agreement helped avert a trade war, but the US stated that visa restrictions on Colombian officials would remain until the first deportation flight arrived in Colombia. Additionally, increased scrutiny would be applied to Colombians arriving in the US.

The diplomatic clash marks a low point in US-Colombia relations, which have historically been strong, particularly in the fight against drug trafficking. Trade between the two countries is significant, with Colombian exports to the US including oil, coffee, and flowers accounting for billions of dollars in revenue.

As tensions subside, both sides appear to have avoided significant economic consequences. However, the row highlights the importance of managing international relations to prevent disruptions in trade and diplomacy.