Trump imposes tariffs, sanctions on Colombia after it refuses US deportation flights

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he will impose sweeping retaliatory measures on Colombia, including tariffs and sanctions, after the South American country turned away two US military aircraft with migrants being deported as part of the new US administration’s immigration crackdown.

Trump’s punitive action appeared aimed at making an example of Colombia, the second case of a Latin American nation refusing US military deportation flights. It was a demonstration of a more muscular US foreign policy and showed a renewed willingness by Trump to use the might of the United States to force other countries to bend to his will.

Trump wrote on his social media site that the refusal by Colombian President Gustavo Petro to accept the flights jeopardised US national security.

“We will not allow the Colombian Government to violate its legal obligations with regard to the acceptance and return of the Criminals they forced into the United States!” Trump wrote.

The retaliatory measures include imposing 25 per cent tariffs on all Colombian goods coming into the United States, which will go up to 50 per cent in one week; a travel ban and visa revocations on Colombian government officials; and emergency treasury, banking and financial sanctions.

Trump said he would also direct enhanced border inspections of Colombian nationals and cargo.