Trump sets 25% tax on Colombian goods after deportation flights blocked.

The United States and Colombia had a big argument after Colombia stopped U.S. planes carrying deported people from landing.

According to BBC, this fight started when Colombian President Gustavo Petro didn’t allow two U.S. military planes carrying Colombians back home to land. Petro said the U.S. treated migrants unfairly and didn’t want them handcuffed during flights.

In response, former U.S. President Donald Trump threatened a 25% tax (or tariff) on all Colombian goods, which could later rise to 50%. Trump said this was to protect the U.S. and send a message that countries must accept their deported citizens. As BBC explained, this could have made coffee, flowers, and other Colombian exports much more expensive for Americans.

At first, Petro pushed back, even offering to send his presidential plane to pick up the deportees. He also warned that Colombia would add taxes to U.S. products in return.

However, late-night talks between the two governments led Colombia to agree to allow deportation flights again, including those on U.S. military planes. BBC noted that this decision likely avoided a trade war that could have hurt both countries’ economies.

While the deal was reached, the U.S. kept some restrictions in place, like stricter checks on Colombians traveling to America and visa bans on Colombian officials until the flights resumed.

As BBC pointed out, this shows how tense relations have become between these two nations, which usually work closely on issues like drug trafficking.

Credit : BBC

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20p36e62gyo

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