Colombia and the United States have initiated a renegotiation to address the 10% tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration on Colombian exports.
Colombia’s Minister of Commerce, Cielo Rusinque, and Ambassador to the U.S., Daniel Garcia-Peña, held a meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. They discussed the tariff measures imposed by the U.S., which affect Colombian export products such as flowers, coffee, bananas, and avocados, and others products.
Though no concrete results were achieved, participants expressed hope for future meetings to advance negotiations. In this regard, the U.S. representative confirmed his visit to Colombia on April 29 and 30.
First meeting between Colombia and the US to negotiate tariffs on exports
Yesterday, Thursday, April 24, Colombia and the United States held their first meeting to negotiate the imposition of U.S. tariffs on Colombian exports.
While no specific outcomes were reached, Colombia’s Minister of Commerce later explained on social media: “With caution and prudence, I wish to announce the positive outcome of the meeting we held (…) with Ambassador Jamieson Greer, U.S. Trade Representative, in Washington, D.C., where we discussed the U.S. decision to impose a general tariff on products from Colombia and other countries.”
She added: “The communication was open, frank, friendly, respectful, and reciprocal. We are optimistic about the results we may achieve following the visit of Mr. Daniel Watson, Deputy Assistant USTR for the Western Hemisphere, to Colombia next week. Our economic policy will continue to focus on reindustrialization, market diversification, and the protection of national interests.”
Con cautela y prudencia, quiero anunciar el resultado positivo de la reunión que sostuvimos hoy con el Embajador Jamieson Greer Representante Comercial de Estados Unidos, en la ciudad de Washington, en la que dialogamos sobre la decisión de Estados Unidos de imponer un arancel… pic.twitter.com/msLlqtgki2
— Cielo Rusinque Urrego🇨🇴🇫🇷 (@cielo_rusinque) April 24, 2025
Steel and aluminum tariffs
Additionally, it was revealed that the meeting focused on the 25% tariff applied to steel, aluminum, and manufactured goods made from these materials, as well as the general 10% tariff affecting exports of flowers, coffee, bananas, avocados, apparel, and other products.
Similarly, discussions addressed the need to establish agreements that eliminate both tariff and non-tariff barriers. Colombia emphasized advancing the sanitary approval of passionflower products, beef, poultry, and improving market conditions for avocados and blueberries.
During the meeting, Minister Rusinque expressed Colombia’s interest in exporting cannabis for medicinal and industrial use to the United States.
“The Colombian government is monitoring the process being carried out by U.S. authorities to reclassify cannabis under their domestic regulations,” stated the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism.
Colombia may withdraw certification requirements for US vehicles
The controversial requirement for certifications on vehicles and components imported from the U.S. was also discussed. This regulation, set to take effect on Friday, May 2, could lead to the suspension of car imports from the U.S. to Colombia.
In this regard, while the specifics of the proposal presented by Greer, the U.S. representative, remain unclear, some Colombian media outlets speculate that one initiative involved urging the Colombian government to withdraw the regulation excluding certification standards for U.S.-origin vehicles and auto parts.
The Colombian government reportedly proposed delaying this measure during yesterday’s meeting as a gesture of goodwill, aiming to open negotiations to eventually ease tariffs on Colombian exports to the U.S.
Negotiations will continue next week following the confirmed visit of Daniel Watson, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the Western Hemisphere, to Bogotá on April 29 and 30.