The United States may halt car exports to Colombia starting in May due to a Colombian law requiring additional certifications for various vehicle components, such as tires, glass, brakes, and safety systems.
This was stated last week by Jamieson L. Greer, a U.S. trade representative, to Colombia’s Minister of Commerce, Cielo Rusinque. In this context, Colombia has one week to decide whether to maintain its legislative proposal or announce the suspension of the law to prevent a blockage of U.S. vehicle imports into the country.
The Colombian regulation, an initiative introduced under President Ivan Duque’s administration in 2022, aims to improve the safety of vehicles sold in Colombia. According to Latin NCAP, an organization that evaluates vehicle safety in Latin America, these standards differ from those in the U.S. or Europe.
US threatens to halt car exports to Colombia
U.S. authorities informed Colombia’s Ministry of Commerce that they will suspend car exports to the South American country if President Gustavo Petro’s government does not withdraw legislation requiring vehicle component certifications.
The law is set to take effect this coming Friday, May 2, at which point the U.S. could halt vehicle shipments to Colombia.
“Colombia’s insistence on changing certification requirements for vehicles and components that comply with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), without providing evidence that the current method fails to meet safety objectives, constitutes an unfair trade practice,” states the U.S. document.
The U.S. argues that Colombia’s demands would not only increase vehicle prices but also qualify as an illegal trade practice, violating the terms of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed between the two countries in 2012.
If the U.S. follows through on its threat, it would disrupt the arrival of U.S.-manufactured vehicles, affecting not only local brands like Chevrolet, Ford, or Jeep but also foreign brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Kia, Hyundai, Toyota, and Volkswagen, among others.
This would also impact Colombia’s vehicle maintenance market, as the supply of spare parts and components from these brands would be halted.
US$700 million in annual exports at risk
Suspending U.S. car exports could jeopardize over US$700 million in annual trade.
According to data from Colombian business associations, nearly 50,000 new vehicles from various brands were sold in Colombia during the first quarter of 2025—a 23% increase (9,322 more units) compared to the same period last year.
Although the U.S. market accounts for only 4% of Colombia’s total vehicle imports, Eduardo Visbal, Vice President of Foreign Trade and Vehicles at Fenalco (a Colombian business federation), calls the measure “discriminatory.”
Visbal claims this move would also affect vehicles imported from countries like Brazil, Argentina, or Mexico (which together hold nearly 50% market share), as these countries import cars and auto parts produced under U.S. FMVSS standards.
“This would mean vehicles meeting American standards could no longer be registered. Manufacturers might try to comply with the new regulations, but that would require third-party involvement, raising costs,” Visbal told El Colombiano.
Meanwhile, the Colombian government defends its regulation, stating it aims to align national standards with international ones.
The 1958 UN Agreement on vehicle and component homologation
Since its adoption in 1958, the United Nations Agreement on the Harmonization of Vehicle, Equipment, and Part Standards—known as the 1958 Agreement—has been a key tool for harmonizing safety and environmental standards in the automotive industry.
Administered by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), this treaty establishes a multilateral system through which member countries mutually recognize vehicle and component testing and certifications.
Colombia, whose automotive industry has expanded and modernized in recent decades, has shown interest in joining this agreement to facilitate foreign trade, attract foreign investment, and improve road safety.
Through its Ministry of Transport, Colombia has begun technical and legal studies to adapt its regulations to the agreement’s standards and has already adopted several technical regulations aligned with UNECE rules.
Joining this international agreement would allow Colombia to align its vehicle and component safety standards with those of the 56 current member countries.
However, full adherence to the 1958 Agreement is technically complex. Colombia must upgrade testing laboratories, train specialized personnel, and harmonize national regulatory frameworks with stringent international requirements.
Currently, Colombia lacks laboratories capable of certifying components under the 1958 Agreement, which some experts argue makes implementing the measure unfeasible.
A Duque administration initiative to improve safety
In March 2022, then Transport Minister Angela Maria Orozco submitted a bill to Colombia’s Congress seeking approval for the country’s accession to the 1958 UN Agreement. The goal was to “improve road safety levels and promote sustainable, safe mobility.”
“In Colombia, we recognize that road safety is a shared responsibility across all sectors: public, private, academic, and road users. Therefore, we consider joining and applying UN legal instruments on vehicle and road safety a critical step to reducing accidents,” the minister stated at the time.
The law was ultimately approved in 2023 under President Gustavo Petro’s administration. Colombia’s implementation of the 1958 Agreement, while voluntary, can be gradual. However, Colombia has so far only considered European UNECE protocols for vehicle certification, excluding U.S. FMVSS standards.
This exclusion risks invalidating certifications for products from the U.S. and suppliers in Mexico, Brazil, or Argentina, affecting both American brands and foreign brands manufacturing vehicles in the U.S.