17-08-2026
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has asked U.S. President Donald Trump to temporarily suspend tariffs on Colombian products, arguing that the measure is worsening the economic consequences of 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 exceptions. De la Espriella said he made the request during a roughly 10-minute conversation with Trump, who reportedly offered condolences for the deaths caused by the disaster. The Colombian president described the conversation as friendly and said the country faces the difficult task of rebuilding amid an “apocalyptic” economic situation.
The 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, devastating the cities of Cali and Pereira. Nearly 300 people were killed, and almost 13,000 homes were destroyed. De la Espriella said suspending the tariffs would provide relief to Colombian business owners struggling with the earthquake’s effects. The White House had not commented on the request when the article was published.
The tariffs were imposed by the Trump administration on 60 countries, including Colombia, which the administration accused of failing to eliminate forced labor. They were implemented under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, replacing temporary levies enacted under Section 122 after those duties expired. The change followed a Supreme Court ruling that struck down Trump’s earlier tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, finding that they lacked congressional authorization.
The article also places the request in the context of Colombia’s changing political relationship with Washington. Trump endorsed De la Espriella, a right-wing lawyer and politician, during his presidential campaign. De la Espriella succeeded leftist former president Gustavo Petro, whose administration frequently clashed with the White House. Since taking office, De la Espriella has joined Trump’s “Shield of the Americas” anti-cartel alliance and plans to develop military cooperation with the United States and Israel against guerrilla groups.
Entities: Abelardo de la Espriella, Donald Trump, Colombia, Cali, Pereira • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
17-08-2026
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia shortly after 7:30 a.m. on Monday has killed at least 281 people, injured more than 3,900 and left 379 people missing, according to government data released Thursday. The worst-hit cities include Cali and Pereira, while the earthquake also damaged homes, apartment buildings, schools and hospitals across the country’s coffee-growing region.
As the critical first 72 hours passed, rescue teams in Cali began shifting from search-and-rescue operations to debris removal at several locations, raising fears that the chances of finding survivors were diminishing. David Tamayo of Colombia’s National Unit for Disaster Risk Management said crews would continue searching for everyone reported missing.
Families continued to wait for news, while volunteers and professional rescuers worked through dangerous rubble. At one residential complex in Cali, volunteers formed bucket brigades and were warned to wear protective equipment. Local chefs were preparing about 1,000 meals each day for rescuers, medical workers and volunteers. In Pereira, Enrique Marin described the death of his mother after rescuers pulled her alive from the remains of her home.
The response has been uneven outside major cities. In Buenaventura, some communities reportedly waited until Wednesday night for rescue workers and residents searched through debris with their bare hands. Armed groups blocked access to some neighborhoods and seized food donations. Residents also lacked water, gas and electricity.
More than 150 aftershocks have complicated rescue efforts, and the government estimates that over 10,500 homes were destroyed. President Abelardo De La Espriella, who took office only days before the disaster, said he would declare an economic emergency and establish a reconstruction fund. The earthquake is emerging as the first major test of his new conservative government, which had campaigned on reducing public spending.
Entities: Colombia, Cali, Pereira, Buenaventura, Roldanillo Cemetery • Tone: urgent • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
17-08-2026
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has asked U.S. President Donald Trump to temporarily suspend tariffs on Colombian products as the country struggles to recover from a devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake. The quake struck western Colombia on Monday, only days after de la Espriella took office. Trump had supported de la Espriella during Colombia’s closely contested presidential election, and the Colombian president has highlighted his relationship with the U.S. leader.
In a post on X, de la Espriella said he thanked Trump for U.S. earthquake assistance and requested tariff relief for Colombian businesses affected by the disaster. The Trump administration had not immediately responded. The United States has pledged US$26.5 million in aid, including food, shelters and health supplies.
The earthquake severely damaged western and Pacific-coast communities, including Pereira, Cali and Quibdó, with the epicentre in Chocó, one of Colombia’s poorest regions. The Colombian government reported at least 289 deaths, 3,937 injuries, 143 missing people, 14,705 destroyed homes and another 81,536 damaged. Civilian databases, however, have reported that the number of missing people could be in the thousands.
In Cali, workers continued searching for more than 70 people reported missing. Although the typical 48-to-72-hour survival window had passed, officials continued rescue operations more than 120 hours after the quake. Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder said rescuers were focusing on locations where victims might still be alive and maintained that “miracles do happen.” The article presents the tariff request as an effort to support businesses while emergency workers continue responding to the humanitarian crisis.
Entities: Abelardo de la Espriella, Donald Trump, Colombia, United States, Cali • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
17-08-2026
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia on Aug 10 has killed nearly 300 people, destroyed almost 27,000 homes and left at least 140 people missing, according to authorities. A week after the disaster, heavy machinery continued clearing rubble in cities including Pereira and Cali, but rescuers acknowledged that the likelihood of finding survivors had fallen sharply, particularly after the critical 72-hour period.
In Pereira, nursing student Andres Cano described the emotional exhaustion affecting rescuers and volunteers as hopes diminished. Despite official indications that some searches had ended, volunteer teams such as Valentia continued looking for survivors in an effort to preserve hope. Buildings deemed unsafe were marked with red crosses, while shelters accommodated displaced residents who were sleeping on mattresses or makeshift beds outdoors. QR codes were provided so residents could report missing relatives and property damage.
The disaster has also created a major housing and reconstruction crisis. Many survivors have lost their homes, and Cali mayor Alejandro Eder estimated that rebuilding Colombia’s third-largest city alone could cost at least US$3.2 billion. Colombia has received millions of dollars in assistance from the United States and the World Bank, but officials expect recovery to take a long time.
The earthquake is the first major test for President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office only three days before it struck. On Aug 15, he asked US President Donald Trump to temporarily suspend tariffs to support Colombia’s recovery. As rescue operations entered their final stages, residents such as Cali lawyer Jorge Leon confronted the reality of having to rebuild their lives from scratch.
Entities: Colombia, Pereira, Cali, 7.4-magnitude earthquake, Earthquake rescue and rubble-clearing operations • Tone: urgent • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
