Ecuador will impose a 30% tariff on Colombian imports, citing trade imbalances and insufficient cooperation on border security.
Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa announced on X on 21 January 2026 that his country will impose a 30% tariff on imports from Colombia starting 1 February 2026, citing a trade imbalance and Colombia’s insufficient cooperation in combating drug trafficking along their shared border.
Noboa said the tariff will stay in effect until Colombia shows a stronger commitment to jointly address drug trafficking and illegal mining.
“We have made genuine efforts to cooperate with Colombia, even while facing a trade deficit that exceeds USD 1 billion annually. But while we have insisted on dialogue, our military continues to confront criminal groups linked to drug trafficking along the border without any cooperation.”
Therefore, in light of the lack of reciprocity and firm action, Ecuador will apply a 30% security levy on imports originating from Colombia as of 1 February.
This measure will remain in place until there is a genuine commitment to jointly confront drug trafficking and illegal mining along the border, with the same seriousness and determination that Ecuador is demonstrating today,” wrote Noboa.
Colombian Energy Minister Edwin Palma criticised the move as “economic aggression,” and said he has halted a plan that would have allowed private companies to participate in cross-border energy sales, fearing it could lead to shortages. He also emphasised that Colombia supplies 8–10% of Ecuador’s electricity and stressed that dialogue, not unilateral actions, is needed between the countries.
Later that same day, Ecuador’s government issued a statement saying it had revised the tariff decision to allow specific exemptions, particularly for electricity and oil logistics services.
