BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AP) — Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has requested U.S. President Donald Trump to suspend tariffs to assist Colombia's recovery from a recent earthquake that resulted in at least 289 fatalities.
De la Espriella, who took office earlier this month shortly before the 7.4 magnitude quake occurred, expressed gratitude to Trump for the U.S. aid provided in response to the disaster. In a message on X, he stated that he asked Trump to consider temporarily suspending high tariffs affecting Colombian products to alleviate the challenges faced by local businesses due to the earthquake's impact.
The Trump administration has not yet responded to this request. The U.S. has pledged a total of $26.5 million in aid, which includes food, shelter, and health supplies, according to the U.S. State Department.
The earthquake, which struck on Monday morning, severely impacted western Colombia, particularly cities such as Pereira, Cali, and Quibdo. The president has declared the quake a natural disaster. The government reports that 143 individuals are missing, while other sources suggest the number could be in the thousands.
The disaster has resulted in 3,937 injuries, the destruction of 14,705 homes, and damage to an additional 81,536 homes. In Cali, search efforts continue for over 70 individuals reported missing, with officials maintaining hope for finding survivors despite the elapsed time since the quake. Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder stated, "Miracles do happen" as rescue operations persist.