US and Colombia in trade tariff war over deportations

The US and Colombia clashed yesterday over the deportation of migrants and imposed tariffs on each other’s goods in a show of what countries could face if they intervene in the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration.

- REGINA GARCIA CANO and ASTRID SUREZ

Presidents Donald Trump and Gustavo Petro, in a series of social media posts, defended their views on migration, with the latter accusing Mr Trump of not treating immigrants with dignity during deportation and announcing a retaliatory 25 percent increase in Colombian tariffs on US goods.

Earlier, the US president had ordered visa restrictions, 25 percent tariffs on all Colombian incoming goods, which would be raised to 50 percent in one week, and other retaliatory measures sparked by Mr Petro's decision to reject two Colombia-bound US military aircraft carrying migrants.