COLOMBIA · TRADE
Key Facts
- —What is happening Colombia’s trade minister, Mauricio Gómez Amín, said on Wednesday, 21 October, that talks with Washington on a reciprocal trade deal move at a good pace, with an announcement in coming weeks and a signing planned for December.
- —Why it matters The deal aims to suspend the 12.5% US tariff charged on much of Colombia’s exports since 24 July, including flowers, apparel and plastics, although the minister would not guarantee a signing this year.
- —The numbers Estimates of the exports hit by the 12.5% duty range from 20.8% to about 30% of Colombian sales to the United States. The talks aim for 90% to 93% of Colombia’s export basket to enter duty-free.
- —Who is who Gómez Amín runs the commerce ministry under conservative President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office in August. Jamieson Greer is the US Trade Representative, and María Consuelo Araújo is Colombia’s ambassador in Washington.
- —What to watch A formal announcement in the coming weeks, a signing in December, and any notice from the US Trade Representative cutting or removing the 12.5% rate; no such notice has been found.
- —Power Index Colombia ranks 6th of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 51.9 points (October 2026 edition).
- —What it means for you US importers of Colombian flowers, clothing and plastics pay the 12.5% duty at the border, so a deal could lower their costs, but nothing changes until Washington publishes a formal order.
Colombia expects to sign a US trade deal in December. It would suspend the 12.5% tariff on Colombian goods, if talks hold.
Colombia tariff talks with the United States are advancing, and Trade Minister Mauricio Gómez Amín expects a December signing. He said on Wednesday, 21 October, that negotiators are reviewing the text article by article.
The deal would temporarily suspend the 12.5% tariff that Washington has charged on much of Colombia’s exports since 24 July. The minister said he cannot yet guarantee that the signing happens this year.
What the Minister Said About the Talks
Colombian outlets El Universal, El Heraldo, Infobae and Semana carried his remarks on 21 October. “Estamos avanzando a buen ritmo,” he said, meaning the talks are moving at a good pace.
He expects a definitive announcement “in the coming weeks” and an official signing in December. On closing the deal this year, Infobae quotes him saying “todavía no lo aseguro”, or “I do not yet guarantee it”.
A Commerce Ministry team went to Washington last week with Ambassador Araújo, El Universal reports. El Heraldo says the minister himself held a “sincere dialogue” there with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
Gómez Amín also said Colombia will sign a trade agreement with El Salvador on Friday, 11 December. He added that talks with Japan are advancing well.
Where the 12.5% Tariff Comes From
On Thursday, 23 July, the US Trade Representative (USTR), the White House trade office, announced Section 301 tariffs on 60 economies. They target countries that do not ban imports made with forced labour.
USTR set a 10% rate for 17 named economies, including Mexico, Canada and Ecuador, and 12.5% for all others it investigated. Colombia is not on the 10% list, so it pays 12.5%.
The duty took effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern time on Friday, 24 July. El Universal reports that it replaced a temporary 10% surcharge in place since February, so the two do not stack.
USTR does not say Colombian goods are made with forced labour, El Universal notes. The issue is that Colombia had not adopted a ban on forced-labour goods arriving from third countries.
Coffee, bananas, avocados, oil, coal, gold, cocoa and medicines are excluded, El Universal and Infobae report. Fresh flowers, apparel, plastic goods and some processed foods are covered in principle.
How Much of Colombia’s Trade Is Hit
AmCham Colombia, the American Chamber of Commerce in Colombia, says 20.8% of Colombian exports to the United States pay the duty. Analdex, the exporters’ association, puts it near 30%, Semana reports.
Semana notes that the two figures differ and does not explain why. Neither source gives a dollar value for the exports affected.
Colombia’s statistics office DANE says exports totalled US$50.2 billion in 2025, with 29.6% going to the United States. That implies about US$14.9 billion, a figure calculated from the share.
On those shares, between roughly US$3.1 billion and US$4.5 billion of annual sales would face the duty. That is an estimate from the two shares, not an official number.
What the Deal Would Cover
Semana and AmCham describe a deal under which 90% to 93% of Colombia’s export basket would enter the US duty-free. It would complement, not replace, the free-trade agreement the two countries have had since 2012.
Topics under negotiation include rules against forced labour, traceability and customs inspection, the list of goods covered, and technical regulations. No text has been published.
On Monday, 28 September, Colombia issued Decree 1444 of 2026, which bans imports made wholly or partly with forced labour. Noticias RCN reports that the customs authority DIAN can control, seize and confiscate such goods.
Infobae says the government presents the decree as its answer to the US concerns. The legal journal Asuntos Legales argues it changes the US assessment but does not guarantee a favourable review.
Law firm Holland & Knight reads the USTR action as letting 12.5% fall to 10% if a country adopts an effective ban. USTR has not said whether Colombia qualifies.
How the Talks Began
An earthquake struck Colombia on Monday, 10 August, days after De la Espriella succeeded Gustavo Petro. The president then instructed Gómez Amín to seek a temporary cut in the tariffs, the ministry said on 20 August.
The minister met Greer in Washington on Wednesday, 19 August, and both sides pledged to move quickly on a reciprocal agreement. The ministry’s statement gave no tariff figures.
On Monday, 12 October, Trump was asked outside the White House about lifting the tariff. He answered “Puede que lo haga” (“I may do it”) without a decision, as an earlier Rio Times report noted.
What It Means for US Readers
US importers of Colombian cut flowers, clothing, plastics and processed foods pay the 12.5% duty when goods clear customs. A deal could lower those costs, but only after Washington issues a formal notice.
Companies that import coffee, bananas, oil, coal or gold from Colombia are not affected, because those goods are excluded. Investors in Colombian exporters should treat December as a target, not a commitment.
Background is in the guide to US policy toward Latin America and the guide to Colombia’s economy. Readers can also see the profile of President De la Espriella and the Colombia news page.
What Is Not Known
No agreement text, US statement on the talks or USTR notice has been found, so the US position is not confirmed. The December signing is a Colombian target that the minister himself would not guarantee.
Reports differ on who went to Washington: El Universal says a ministry team, El Heraldo says the minister. Which products a deal would free from the duty is not stated.
It is also unclear whether Decree 1444 satisfies USTR. Importers have challenged the Section 301 tariffs in US trade court since 24 July, Holland & Knight says.
What Comes Next
The minister expects an announcement in the coming weeks and a signing in December. A signed deal would still need US action, such as a USTR notice, before the 12.5% rate changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the US tariff on Colombian goods?
The United States charges an extra 12.5% on many Colombian goods since 24 July. USTR set the rate under Section 301 because Colombia had no ban on forced-labour imports.
Which Colombian products are excluded from the tariff?
Coffee, bananas, avocados, oil, coal, gold, cocoa and medicines are excluded, El Universal and Infobae report. Flowers, apparel, plastics and some processed foods are covered in principle.
When could Colombia and the US sign a trade deal?
Minister Gómez Amín expects an announcement in the coming weeks and a signing in December. He said he cannot yet guarantee that it will happen this year.
How much of Colombia’s exports does the tariff hit?
AmCham Colombia puts it at 20.8% of exports to the United States, and Analdex at close to 30%. The two estimates differ and no dollar value is given.
What is Decree 1444?
It is a Colombian decree of 28 September 2026 that bans imports made wholly or partly with forced labour. The government presents it as a response to US concerns.
Sources: USTR press release, 23 July; Colombian Commerce Ministry, 20 August; El Universal, 21 October; El Heraldo, 21 October; Infobae; Semana, 21 October; AmCham Colombia, 21 October; El Universal, 24 July; Noticias RCN, Decree 1444; Asuntos Legales, 16 October; Holland & Knight, 30 July; DANE export data as reported by Bloomberg Línea, 3 February (all accessed 22 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief