Trump’s clash with Colombia is a lesson for EU leaders
Less than a week into his second term, US president Donald Trump has already sparked an international dispute - this time with Colombia. The escalation, which almost turned into a tariff war, serves as a warning to the European Union, which could soon face similar challenges.
It wasn’t Mexico, Canada or even China, but Colombia that became the first country to challenge president Trump’s immigration policies. Shortly after his inauguration, the Colombian government blocked the landing of US military planes carrying deported migrants.
"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"
In response, Trump swiftly announced plans to impose “emergency 20 per cent tariffs” on all Colombian imports, along with “immediate visa revocations” and a travel ban. The tariffs, he warned in a Truth Social post, would rise to 50 per cent within a week if Colombia failed to comply.
Trade war
“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 said.
Colombian president Gustavo Petro retorted by announcing 25 per cent tariffs on US imports. He also vowed to redirect the country’s exports to other markets. The first trade war seemed to be a fact.
However, the standoff was short-lived. Petro eventually backed down and agreed to accept migrants on military aircraft. This prompted the White House to shelve its tariff plans - for now.
Show of power
The clash between Trump and Colombia is, above all, a show of power. It highlights the president’s commitment to his hardline immigration agenda and his readiness to punish nations that do not align with US policies. Throughout his campaign, Trump repeatedly pledged to take a tough stance on illegal immigration, and his actions against Colombia demonstrate that he intends to follow through.
Latin American countries like Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras - major sources of migration to the US - are on high alert. Tens of thousands of migrants attempt to cross into the US each year from South America, and Trump’s aggressive tactics signal potential economic consequences for nations that fail to cooperate with his administration’s demands.
However, the ramifications of the US-Colombia dispute extend far beyond South America. Trump’s actions should serve as a warning to all of the US’s global trading partners, including the European Union.
During his campaign, Trump threatened to increase tariffs on EU imports by 10 to 20 per cent. This would seriously hurt European export industries, including the automotive sector, which are already struggling as a result of high energy costs and competition from China. The Colombia incident suggests that Trump is more than willing to use trade as a weapon. That would leave the EU in a vulnerable position.
While European leaders have considered, and are considering, counter-tariffs as a potential response, a full-scale trade war would disproportionately harm the EU because it relies heavily on exports. The bloc must therefore take the Colombia episode as an opportunity to develop a strategy to navigate Trump’s economic policies.
Finding a balance
Europe will have to find a delicate balance: resisting becoming passive recipients of US demands while avoiding economic retaliation that could strain international relations. European leaders should not wait for direct confrontations but engage in diplomatic efforts to avoid potential trade conflicts and safeguard their own economic interests.
The US-Colombia clash may have been resolved quickly, but it can serve as an indication of the problems ahead. Europe best prepares accordingly.
(JPO)
Donald Trump during his reelection campaign in Pennsylvania © PHOTO JOE LAMBERTI / AFP