Colombia’s President Abelardo de la Espriella has appealed to US President Donald Trump to temporarily suspend tariffs on Colombian products as the country struggles to recover from a devastating earthquake.
De la Espriella said he made the request during what he described as a “friendly and cordial” 10-minute conversation with Trump on Saturday. He said suspending the tariffs would provide relief to businesses as Colombia faces the enormous cost of rebuilding after the disaster.
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia on Monday, killing at least 294 people and damaging or destroying tens of thousands of buildings, according to the country’s National Unit for Disaster Risk Management.
Reconstruction could cost $6.4bn
The Colombian government estimates that rebuilding the areas affected by the earthquake could require approximately $6.4 billion.
Finance Minister Miguel Gomez said the government was not currently considering raising taxes to finance the reconstruction, according to local media reports.
The economic challenge has been made more difficult by renewed US tariffs. Duties on most Colombian products increased from 10 percent to 12.5 percent in late July, although some products, including coffee and oil, were exempted.
The United States remains Colombia’s largest export market, making the tariffs a significant concern for the country’s economy.
Trump-backed president seeks closer US ties
De la Espriella, a millionaire lawyer who won Colombia’s presidential election in June, has sought closer relations with Washington since taking office earlier this month.
He has joined the “Shield of the Americas”, an anti-cartel alliance led by Trump and involving several South American countries.
The Colombian president has also expressed plans to establish a military alliance with the United States and Israel as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s fight against armed groups.
For now, however, Bogotá is seeking immediate economic relief from Washington as it confronts the massive task of rebuilding after the earthquake.
