Colombia's President Urges Trump to Suspend Tariffs After Deadly Earthquake

Colombia's newly inaugurated President Abelardo de la Espriella has formally requested that US President Donald Trump temporarily suspend tariffs on Colombian products, citing the devastating impact of a recent earthquake. The 7.4-magnitude quake struck on Monday, killing 300 people and destroying nearly 13,000 homes. In a social media statement, De la Espriella explained that the tariffs, which rose from 10% to 12.5% in late July, are placing an additional burden on Colombian business owners already struggling with the earthquake's aftermath. The increased tariffs, effective July 24, replaced an expiring global duty introduced by Trump earlier this year, with exceptions for coffee and oil. De la Espriella revealed that he spoke with Trump for about 10 minutes, during which Trump expressed condolences for the loss of life. The Colombian leader described the conversation as 'very friendly and cordial.' The request highlights the economic strain on Colombia as it faces recovery efforts, and the diplomatic exchange underscores the importance of trade relations between the two nations during a crisis.