Ecuador to Impose 30% Tariff on Colombian Imports From Feb. 1

Overview

• President Daniel Noboa announced a 30% levy on goods from Colombia that will take effect on February 1 as part of his government's security push.
• Noboa said the surcharge will stay in place until Colombia commits to coordinated efforts against drug trafficking and illegal mining, citing a 2024 trade deficit of more than $1 billion.
• The Colombian presidency and the commerce and foreign ministries said they are analyzing the move, while Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez highlighted ongoing bilateral cooperation.
• Ecuador has limited official crossings to Rumichaca on the Colombian frontier and Huaquillas on the Peruvian border and has deployed more than 10,000 troops under emergency orders.
• Ecuador’s interior minister alleged Colombian forces were pulled back about 50 kilometers from the border, a claim not confirmed by Bogotá that underscores the dispute over security coordination.