From now on, Americans will pay top dollar to buy Colombian coffee by Trump's order

The Greek Courier

Trump slapped tariffs and travel bans on Colombia on Sunday, after the South American country refused to allow two planes of deported migrants to land on its soil, due to mistreatment by the American authorities. As a result, American consumers will pay 25% more for all Colombian goods coming into the US, which will be raised to 50% in one week. Oil, gold, and flowers but most importantly, coffee, top the list of exports, according to Colombia’s tax authorities. 

Hundreds of American coffee companies are selling Colombian coffee in retail or wholesale so consumers should expect a large pay increase on their favorite drink. In 2023, the South American country exported over 10.5 million 60-kilogram bags. The United States, Belgium, and Japan were some of the top countries of destination.

Trump also called for a travel ban and immediate visa revocations on Colombian government officials “and all Allies and Supporters” as well as visa sanctions on party members, family members, and supporters of the government of President Gustavo Petro. Trump said that “Petro’s denial of these flights has jeopardized the National Security and Public Safety of the United States.” 

Petro said earlier Sunday that he’d reject US flights carrying migrants unless they were treated with dignity and not as criminals. Brazil received 88 migrants on Friday, who were shackled and in handcuffs. In a statement on Sunday, Colombia said it would offer the presidential plane to arrange the repatriation flights for migrants set to return to Colombia Sunday, as it considers the military planes Trump is using as degrading to the migrants.

While most South American nations now do more business with China, the US remains Colombia’s top trading partner. Between January and November 2024, Colombian exports to the US reached $13 billion, a nearly 8% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Colombians in the US also also generate strong cultural ties and remittance flows.

Colombia is the US’s fourth-biggest source of foreign oil, topping both Saudi Arabia and Brazil, according to the Energy Information Administration. The latest data showed Colombia shipping more than 215,000 barrels of crude daily to US ports. About a third, or 29%, of Colombian exports go to the US.

Colombia has historically been one of Washington’s biggest allies in Latin America and a major recipient of US aid and military assistance. Yet as one of Latin America’s leading leftist leaders, Petro was already on the wrong side of Trump. Petro has courted China and slammed Israel over the death toll among Palestinians in its war with Hamas.