President Trump announced plans to raise US tariffs on Colombian imports and suspend financial aid, citing alleged Colombian involvement in drug trafficking.
US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social, on 19 October 2025, plans to increase tariffs on Colombia and halt financial aid to the country, intensifying tensions between Washington and Bogota.
The dispute stems from US military strikes on vessels in the Caribbean, which the US claims were linked to drug trafficking. Trump accused Colombian President Gustavo Petro of being an “illegal drug leader” and criticised Colombia for allegedly enabling the drug trade.
“President Gustavo Petro, of Colombia, is an illegal drug leader strongly encouraging the massive production of drugs, in big and small fields, all over Colombia. It has become the biggest business in Colombia, by far, and Petro does nothing to stop it, despite large scale payments and subsidies from the USA that are nothing more than a long term rip off of America. AS OF TODAY, THESE PAYMENTS, OR ANY OTHER FORM OF PAYMENT, OR SUBSIDIES, WILL NO LONGER BE MADE TO COLOMBIA.” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Petro, in turn, denied the allegations, stating that a targeted vessel belonged to a “humble family” and not a rebel group, while his government condemned Trump’s remarks as offensive.
Trump, however, defended the strikes and promised to reveal details about the new tariffs on 20 October 2025. While it remains unclear what financial aid Trump referred to, Colombia, once a major recipient of US assistance, has seen a significant reduction in funding following the closure of USAID earlier this year.
Currently, Colombian imports face a 10% tariff in the US.
