Colombia asks Trump to suspend tariffs as country reels from earthquake

Post-earthquake reconstruction is expected to cost around $6.4bn, but Colombia has been hit by renewed US tariffs.Published On 15 Aug 202615 Aug 2026Colombia’s new president has called on United States President Donald Trump to suspend tariffs targeting the South American country, which is reeling from a deadly earthquake that has killed hundreds.President Abelardo de la Espriella said Saturday that he had requested the US “temporarily suspend” tariffs on Colombia to give “relief” to business owners.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Colombia’s rescuers search rubble as hope fades on finding survivorslist 2 of 3Families angered by slow search for loved ones after Colombia quakelist 3 of 3Buenaventura residents criticise state neglect after Colombia’s earthquakeend of listOn Monday, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia, killing at least 294 people and damaging or destroying tens of thousands of buildings across the country, according to Colombia’s National Unit for Disaster Risk Management.US tariffs on Colombian products rose from 10 percent to 12.5 percent in late July, with a few exceptions including coffee and oil. The US is Colombia’s top export market.The Colo...