By Phil Stewart and Oliver Griffin
WASHINGTON/BOGOTA (Reuters) -The U.S. and Colombia pulled again from the brink of a commerce battle on Sunday after the White Home mentioned the South American nation had agreed to just accept navy plane carrying deported migrants.
U.S. President Donald Trump had threatened tariffs and sanctions on Colombia to punish it for earlier refusing to just accept navy flights carrying deportees as a part of his sweeping immigration crackdown.
However in an announcement late on Sunday, the White Home mentioned Colombia had agreed to just accept the migrants in spite of everything and Washington wouldn’t impose its threatened penalties.
“The Government of Colombia has agreed to all of President Trump’s terms, including the unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on U.S. military aircraft, without limitation or delay,” it mentioned.
Draft orders imposing tariffs and sanctions on Colombia could be “held in reserve, and not signed, unless Colombia fails to honor this agreement”, it added.
In an announcement late on Sunday, Colombian International Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo mentioned: “We have overcome the impasse with the U.S. government”.
“The government of Colombia… has the presidential plane ready to facilitate the return of Colombians who were going to arrive in the country this morning on deportation flights.”
The draft measures included imposing 25% tariffs on all Colombian items coming into the U.S., which might go up to 50% in a single week; a journey ban and visa revocations on Colombian authorities officers; and emergency treasury, banking and monetary sanctions.
Trump additionally mentioned he would additionally direct enhanced border inspections of Colombian nationals and cargo.
A State Division spokesperson mentioned america had suspended visa processing on the U.S. embassy in Bogota.
Colombia is the third largest U.S. buying and selling companion in Latin America, whereas the U.S. is Colombia’s largest buying and selling companion.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro earlier condemned the navy deportation flights and mentioned he would by no means perform a raid to return handcuffed People to the U.S.
“We are the opposite of the Nazis,” he wrote in a submit on social media platform X.
However he additionally mentioned Colombia would welcome dwelling deported migrants on civilian planes, and provided his presidential airplane to facilitate their “dignified return”.
Trump declared unlawful immigration a nationwide emergency and imposed a sweeping crackdown since taking workplace final Monday. He directed the U.S. navy to assist with border safety, issued a broad ban on asylum and took steps to limit citizenship for youngsters born on U.S. soil.
Mexico additionally refused a request final week to let a U.S. navy plane land with migrants.
Trump has mentioned he is considering imposing 25% duties on imports from Canada and Mexico on Feb. 1 to power additional motion in opposition to unlawful immigrants and fentanyl flowing into the U.S.