White House backs off on tariffs on Colombia after agreement on ‘unrestricted acceptance’ of migrants

The White House said Sunday night that Colombia has agreed to allow the United States to transport repatriated migrants back to the country after two US military planes carrying deportees were blocked by Colombia early Sunday, sparking a flurry of tariff threats between President Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart, CNN reports.

After Colombian President Gustavo Petro rejected the military planes from landing, stating the US “can’t treat Colombian migrants like criminals,” Trump ordered “emergency 25% tariffs” on all imports from the country that would be raised to 50% in a week, a “travel ban” for Colombian citizens, and a revocation of visas for Colombian officials in the US.

“These measures are just the beginning. We will not allow the Colombian Government to violate its legal obligations with regard to the acceptance and return of the Criminals they forced into the United States!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Hours later, Petro threatened a 25% retaliatory tariff increase on the US in a series of social media posts attacking Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Petro said he objected to the use of military planes and the treatment of migrants but left the door open to Colombia receiving repatriated migrants traveling on civilian planes.

Late Sunday evening, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the US and Colombia had agreed to the “unrestricted acceptance” of migrants from Colombia and would allow them to be returned to the country “including on US military aircraft, without limitation or delay.”

Leavitt said in the statement the US would not sign the tariffs or economic sanctions Trump ordered “unless Colombia fails to honor this agreement.”

Leavitt said tariffs and financial sanctions will be paused, but visa sanctions against Colombian officials and stricter customs inspections of Colombian nationals and cargo ships ordered by Trump earlier Sunday will remain in effect “until the first planeload of Colombian deportees is successfully returned.”

Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo confirmed late Sunday — just moments after the White House’s statement — that US deportation flights have resumed.

The escalating trade threats mark the first time Trump took major action against another country over his immigration policy since he took office last week.

Rubio said in an statement Sunday afternoon that Colombian officials had approved two military flights carrying migrants to Colombia and then revoked the authorization once they were en route. CNN reported earlier, based on a review of documents, that Colombian officials had approved the flights.

“Colombian President Petro had authorized flights and provided all needed authorizations and then canceled his authorization when the planes were in the air. As demonstrated by today’s actions, we are unwavering in our commitment to end illegal immigration and bolster America’s border security,” Rubio said.

Petro disputed that he had given authorization, writing on X after the secretary of state’s statement, “I will never allow Colombians to be brought in handcuffs on flights. Marco, if officials from the Foreign Ministry allowed this, it would never be under my direction.”

Petro also called on US citizens living in Colombia illegally to “regularize” their stay, without offering specifics. “American citizens who wish to do so can be in Colombia, I believe in human freedom,” he wrote on X, adding: “You will never see me burning a US flag or carrying out a raid to return handcuffed illegal immigrants to the US.”