16-08-2026
Colombia’s President Abelardo de la Espriella has asked US President Donald Trump to temporarily suspend tariffs on Colombian goods as the country struggles to recover from a devastating earthquake. De la Espriella said he made the request during a 10-minute conversation with Trump that he described as “very friendly and cordial,” arguing that tariff relief would help Colombian businesses during the reconstruction effort.
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia on Monday, killing at least 294 people and damaging or destroying tens of thousands of buildings, according to the country’s National Unit for Disaster Risk Management. The disaster has created an urgent economic challenge for the new government, which estimates that approximately $6.4bn will be needed for reconstruction. Finance Minister Miguel Gomez said the government was not currently considering tax increases to raise the required funds.
US tariffs on Colombian products increased from 10 percent to 12.5 percent in late July, although coffee and oil were among the products excluded from the increase. The United States is Colombia’s largest export market. Washington has justified renewed tariffs against Colombia and other trading partners by citing alleged failures to uphold anti-forced-labour measures, following a legal setback involving Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs.
The article also places the tariff dispute within the context of Colombia’s changing foreign and security policy. Trump endorsed de la Espriella, a right-wing millionaire lawyer, during the Colombian presidential campaign, in which he narrowly defeated left-wing candidate Ivan Cepeda. Since taking office in early August, de la Espriella has joined Trump’s “Shield of the Americas” anti-cartel alliance and said he intends to establish a military alliance with the United States and Israel to support Colombia’s fight against armed groups.
Entities: Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella, Donald Trump, United States, 7.4-magnitude earthquake • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
16-08-2026
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella said Saturday that he asked U.S. President Donald Trump to temporarily suspend tariffs on Colombian products as the country struggles to recover from a devastating earthquake. U.S. tariffs on most Colombian goods increased from 10% to 12.5% on July 24, although coffee and oil were among the products exempted. De la Espriella argued that suspending the tariffs would provide relief to Colombian business owners facing severe economic difficulties after the disaster.
The Colombian president said he spoke with Trump for about 10 minutes and described the conversation as friendly and cordial. According to De la Espriella, Trump expressed condolences for those killed in Monday’s 7.4-magnitude earthquake. The quake devastated the western cities of Cali and Pereira, killing nearly 300 people and destroying almost 13,000 homes. De la Espriella said Colombia faces the enormous task of rebuilding amid what he called an “apocalyptic economic situation” inherited from the previous administration. The White House had not commented on the tariff request when the article was published.
The report also explains the legal and political background of the tariffs. The Trump administration imposed duties of up to 12.5% on products from 60 countries, including Colombia, accusing them of failing to eliminate forced labor. The measures were imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 after earlier tariffs under Section 122 expired. The change followed the Supreme Court’s ruling that broader tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act lacked congressional authorization.
De la Espriella, a right-wing lawyer-turned-politician endorsed by Trump, succeeded leftist former President Gustavo Petro. Since taking office, he has aligned Colombia with Trump’s Shield of the Americas anti-cartel alliance and has proposed a military partnership with the United States and Israel to combat guerrillas.
Entities: Abelardo de la Espriella, Donald Trump, Colombia, Gustavo Petro, Cali • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
16-08-2026
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia on Monday has killed at least 281 people, injured more than 3,900 and left 379 people reported missing, according to government figures released Thursday. The hardest-hit areas include Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city, and Pereira in the country’s coffee region. As the first 72 hours passed, rescuers in Cali began shifting from active search-and-rescue operations to debris removal at many sites, raising fears that the likelihood of finding survivors was declining.
Families continued waiting for news while volunteers and professional crews worked through unstable rubble. In Pereira, Enrique Marin described finding his mother alive beneath their collapsed home, only for her to die on the way to hospital. In Cali, volunteers organized bucket brigades, while local chefs prepared approximately 1,000 meals daily for rescuers, medics and volunteers.
The disaster response has also exposed major challenges outside the largest cities. In Buenaventura, some communities reportedly received little or no government assistance until Wednesday night, forcing residents to search by hand. Armed groups blocked access to some neighborhoods and allegedly seized food donations. Survivors in affected areas continued to lack water, gas and electricity.
More than 150 aftershocks have complicated rescue work and threatened people made homeless by the initial quake. The government estimates that more than 10,500 homes were destroyed. A unit investigating disappeared persons also examined human remains uncovered near Roldanillo Cemetery.
President Abelardo De La Espriella, who had taken office only days before the earthquake, announced plans to declare an economic emergency and establish a reconstruction fund for hospitals, schools, homes and infrastructure. The earthquake is becoming the first major test of his new conservative government, amid growing criticism of the official response.
Entities: Colombia, 7.4-magnitude earthquake, Cali, Pereira, Roldanillo Cemetery • Tone: urgent • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
16-08-2026
Colombia’s new President Abelardo de la Espriella has asked US President Donald Trump to temporarily suspend tariffs on Colombian products as the country responds to the aftermath of a deadly earthquake. The tremor reportedly killed 300 people and destroyed nearly 13,000 homes, leaving Colombia’s businesses and communities under severe pressure. The article also references reports that at least 100 deaths had been confirmed following one of the country’s strongest earthquakes this century.
US tariffs on Colombian goods increased from 10 per cent to 12.5 per cent in late July. Coffee and oil were among the products excluded from the higher duties. The new tariff rate took effect on July 24, replacing a global duty introduced by the Trump administration earlier in the year that was due to expire.
De la Espriella said he spoke with Trump for approximately 10 minutes and asked him to suspend the increased tariffs temporarily. He argued that the measure would provide relief to Colombian business owners who are struggling because of the earthquake’s economic consequences. The Colombian president said Trump expressed condolences for those killed in Monday’s 7.4-magnitude earthquake.
According to De la Espriella, the exchange was “very friendly and cordial.” The request places trade policy alongside emergency recovery efforts, with Colombia seeking reduced pressure on businesses while it deals with deaths, housing destruction and the broader economic impact of the disaster. The article does not indicate whether Trump agreed to suspend or reduce the tariffs.
Entities: Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella, Donald Trump, United States, South America • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
16-08-2026
Juan Felipe Giraldo, a 24-year-old eyewear salesman and father, was found dead beneath the rubble of the Hotel Dibeni in Pereira, Colombia, after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the country early Monday. Giraldo had traveled from Bogotá to Pereira for work only hours before the disaster and was staying at the hotel when it collapsed. He had been due to marry his fiancée, Natalia Patiño, on Aug. 16—just two days after rescuers recovered his body. The couple lived in Bogotá with their 2-year-old son.
After Giraldo was reported missing, his father, Hernán Giraldo, traveled to Pereira and joined rescue teams searching day and night. A video Giraldo sent to his fiancée before the earthquake reportedly helped rescuers determine where he was located. During the search, Hernán expressed hope that his son might still be alive, saying that even small signs of life offered hope and promising that Giraldo would be present for his wedding, whether it took place on Sunday or later.
Following the recovery, Patiño posted a tribute to Giraldo on Instagram, describing him as the most complete love she had ever known and saying she would love him forever. The earthquake caused widespread devastation across Colombia, with Pereira among the hardest-hit cities. According to a Saturday report from Colombia’s National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, 294 people had died, 3,935 were injured, and more than 300 remained missing. The article presents Giraldo’s death as a particularly tragic personal story amid the broader disaster and ongoing rescue efforts.
Entities: Juan Felipe Giraldo, Natalia Patiño, Hernán Giraldo, Pereira, Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia • Tone: emotional • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
