SWEEPING CRACKDOWN
Trump declared unlawful immigration a nationwide emergency and imposed a sweeping crackdown since taking workplace final Monday. He directed the US navy to assist with border safety, issued a broad ban on asylum and took steps to limit citizenship for youngsters born on US soil.
Colombia’s Petro condemned the follow on Sunday, suggesting it handled migrants like criminals. In a submit on social media platform X, Petro stated Colombia would welcome dwelling deported migrants on civilian planes.
He additionally supplied his presidential aircraft to facilitate the “dignified return” of Colombian nationals.
Petro stated regardless that there have been 15,660 People with out authorized immigration standing in Colombia, he would by no means perform a raid to return handcuffed People to the US
“We’re the other of the Nazis,” he wrote.
Mexico additionally refused a request final week to let a US navy plane land with migrants.
Trump didn’t take related motion towards Mexico, the biggest US buying and selling companion, however has stated he was interested by imposing 25 per cent duties on imports from Canada and Mexico on Feb 1 to drive additional motion towards unlawful immigrants and fentanyl flowing into the US.
A White Home supply stated that the scenario escalated rapidly after Petro modified his thoughts about accepting the flights, with Trump taking “speedy motion.”
“Completely. Sure. International locations have an obligation to simply accept repatriation flights,” the supply stated when requested if Trump was utilizing Colombia to set an instance. “The USA is just sending again the criminals that Colombia despatched to the US.”
TRADE DEAL PARTNERS
The US is Colombia’s largest buying and selling companion, largely because of a 2006 free commerce settlement that generated US$33.8 billion in two-way commerce in 2023 and a US$1.6 billion US commerce surplus, in response to US Census Bureau information.
However Colombia ranks simply twenty third amongst US buying and selling companions, which implies it might have extra to lose.
Alejo Czerwonko, chief funding officer for rising markets Americas at UBS International Wealth Administration, stated Colombia relied on entry to the US marketplace for a few third of its exports, or about 4 per cent of its GDP.
“As well as, the Petro-Trump relationship has began off on the improper foot, which may sign extra challenges forward,” Czerwonko advised Reuters.
Colombia’s high 2023 exports to the US have been heavy crude oil, gold, espresso, reduce roses, aluminum home windows and diesel gas, Census Bureau information confirmed. Its high imports from the US have been gasoline, civilian plane, corn, naphthas, and soybean solids.