The United States has paused sanctions and tariffs on Colombia after the country agreed to meet all of former President Donald Trump's conditions, including accepting flights carrying deported migrants from the U.S., according to the White House.

Earlier, Colombia reversed its stance by sending its presidential plane to Honduras to bring back Colombian nationals deported from the U.S. Initially, Colombia had refused to accept these deportation flights, which led President Trump to impose a 25% tariff and other retaliatory measures. According to a statement from the president's office, Colombian President Gustavo Petro organised the presidential plane to enable the "dignified return" of Colombian citizens who had been returned to the nation. A "dedicated team" has also been established by the Colombian government to guarantee the "dignified treatment" of deported citizens. 

"Additionally, the government has convened a Unified Command Post (PMU) on migration, including representatives from the Defence Ministry, the People's Office, the Chancellor's Office, and the Presidency of the Republic. This body's objective is to establish and review protocols that ensure dignified treatment of deported Colombians, guaranteeing that procedures respect human rights and the integrity of each person," a statement released by the President's office read. The Colombian government also promised to stay in contact with the United States and stated that it would work on agreements to ensure that those being deported are treated with basic dignity.

"Colombia reaffirms its commitment to protecting its nationals and will continue leading regional and international efforts to find humane and just solutions to migration challenges," the statement read.

On January 26, Colombian President Gustavo Petro stated that his government would not accept flights carrying migrants deported from the United States unless the US, under the Trump administration, established a protocol to ensure they are treated with dignity. He emphasised that Colombian migrants should not be treated like criminals. Petro shared this message in two posts on X, one of which featured a news video showing migrants reportedly deported to Brazil walking on a tarmac with their hands and feet restrained.

President Petro banned US military deportation planes, and hours after Colombia denied, Donald Trump declared a 25% retaliatory "emergency tariff" on Colombia. Two American military planes carrying migrants had been turned down by the Colombian government previously. Trump made the announcement on his social media account, Truth Social. According to him, Gustavo Petro's choice put US national security in jeopardy. 

"These measures are just the beginning," Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. "We will not allow the Colombian government to violate its legal obligations about the acceptance and return of the criminals they forced into the United States." A 25% tariff on all Colombian imports was one of the punitive measures, along with a "travel ban" for Colombian citizens and the cancellation of visas for Colombian officials in the US as well as "all allies and supporters." President Donald Trump's order prompted Colombian President Gustavo Petro to impose higher import duties on US goods.  

Colombian President Petro announced on X that he instructed the country's foreign trade minister to increase import tariffs on goods from the United States by 25%. Between 2020 and 2024, Colombia received 475 deportation flights from the United States, ranking fifth after Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and El Salvador, according to the advocacy group Witness at the Border, which monitors flight data. In 2024 alone, Colombia received 124 deportation flights.