Post-earthquake reconstruction is expected to cost around $6.4 billion, while Colombia is hit by new U.S. tariffs.
Published August 15, 2026
Colombia’s new president has called on US President Donald Trump to suspend tariffs targeting the South American country reeling from a devastating earthquake that killed hundreds of people.
President Abelardo de la Espriela said on Saturday he had asked the United States to “suspend” tariffs on Colombia to “relieve” business owners.
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A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia on Monday, killing at least 294 people and damaging or destroying tens of thousands of buildings across the country, according to Colombia’s National Disaster Risk Management Unit.
U.S. tariffs on Colombian products rose from 10% to 12.5% in late July, with some exceptions such as coffee and oil. The United States is Colombia’s largest export market.
The Colombian leader described his 10-minute conversation with President Trump as “very friendly and cordial.”
“I told him that we have a huge challenge to rebuild Colombia in the very difficult and apocalyptic economic situation that we inherited,” he said.
Colombian Finance Minister Miguel Gomez has not yet considered raising taxes to raise the roughly $6.4 billion needed for recovery, local media reported.
Shortly after the legal defeat over the “Emancipation Day” tariffs, the White House announced new tariffs targeting nearly all U.S. trading partners, including Colombia, for noncompliance with anti-forced labor measures.
President Trump endorsed de la Espriela, a billionaire lawyer-turned-politician, during his presidential bid, which he narrowly defeated leftist Ivan Cepeda in June.
Since taking office in early August, Mr. de la Espriera has joined President Trump’s so-called “Shield of the Americas,” an anti-cartel coalition of several South American countries.
Colombia’s new president also said he plans to forge a military alliance with the United States and Israel to strengthen the country’s long-running conflict with armed groups.
