President Donald Trump said he might remove the additional 12.5% U.S. tariff on some Colombian goods, linking possible relief to his friendship with Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella. For exporters, workers and shoppers, a public hint is not an actual change: until officials act, the duty still has to be paid. For now, the tariff remains.
Trump spoke to reporters outside the White House on Monday, 12 October, before flying to Ohio to campaign for Republican candidates ahead of the November midterm elections. In a Spanish rendering by the news agency EFE, carried by Bogotá daily El Tiempo, Trump said, “Puede que lo haga,” meaning, “I may do it.” He called De la Espriella a friend, said he had backed him and praised the Colombian leader for doing a great job. No timetable or product list came with the promise-shaped remark.
A tariff set from above
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced the final action on the duty on Thursday, 23 July, under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The measure followed an investigation of 60 economies into whether they imposed and enforced bans on imports made with forced labor. Seventeen economies with such a ban, or a promise to adopt one, received a 10% rate; most others received 12.5%. According to La República and El Tiempo, Colombia fell into the higher group.
Under USTR criteria, economies with a forced-labor import ban, or a commitment to one in a trade agreement, qualified for the lower group. Mexico, Canada, Argentina, Ecuador and Guatemala were among those assigned the 10% rate. The apparatus sets the categories. Exporters and people buying the goods absorb the consequences.
Who pays while officials talk
Both newspapers reported that Colombian flowers, apparel and processed foods face the extra duty. La República also listed chocolates, confectionery and cosmetics, while El Tiempo named footwear. La República reported that coffee, oil, gold, bananas, avocados and certain sugars were exempt.
U.S. importers pay the tariff when goods clear customs. They may pass the cost along through lower prices for exporters, higher prices for shoppers, or both. Customs collects the official charge at the border, but the pressure can move down the chain to people with less control over prices and policy. Trump’s statement didn't change any of that.
A remark isn't a reversal
The comment came as relations between Washington and Bogotá warmed after conservative lawyer De la Espriella succeeded leftist Gustavo Petro. El Tiempo contrasted the warmer tone with Trump’s tense relationship with Petro. In August, after an earthquake, De la Espriella asked Trump to suspend the tariffs, according to Emol and BAE Negocios. EFE also reported that the two governments had deepened security cooperation since De la Espriella took office in August, but it didn't link that cooperation directly to the tariff.
The reports reviewed cited no executive order, USTR notice, Federal Register filing or White House statement confirming a change. Colombia’s government hadn't publicly commented on Trump’s remark in those reports. A La República headline cited exporters’ group Analdex as saying the rate could soon fall to zero, but no official had confirmed the claim.
Any change would require formal action, such as a USTR modification of the Section 301 measure or a presidential order. Until that happens, goods entering the United States continue to face the 12.5% rate. A campaign stop makes headlines. So does a friendly quote. Neither clears a shipment through customs at a lower cost.