Colombia’s president presses Trump to pause 12.5% tariffs after quake
Why it matters: Colombia says nearly 300 people died and almost 13,000 homes were destroyed in the Aug. 10 earthquake.
Colombia’s president asked President Donald Trump to temporarily suspend US tariffs on Colombian goods as the country struggles to recover from the Aug. 10 earthquake. Tariffs on Colombian products rose from 10% to 12.5% on July 24, though coffee and oil were exempt. In a post on X, the Colombian leader said he spoke with Trump for about 10 minutes and sought relief for businesses hit by the disaster. He said Trump offered condolences. The 7.4-magnitude quake devastated Cali and Pereira, killing nearly 300 people and destroying almost 13,000 homes, according to the president’s account of the damage.