'Columbia ready to accept deported migrants after tariff threat', says White House
PTC News Desk: Soon after US President Donald Trump unleased a wave of sanctions on Columbia including 25% emergency tariff, the Latin American country has conceded and agreed to accept deported immigrants on US military flights, the White House announced on Monday.
However there is no official confirmation from Columbia yet.
The South American country has consented to "unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on US military aircraft, without limitation or delay," a White House statement said.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump had announced emergency tariff after the Latin American country refused to accept two military aircrafts deporting migrants.
The US, as per Trump, will immediately impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Colombian imports, and will spike them to 50 per cent within one week.
US President took to his social media platform truth social and said that the denial has jeopardised national security and Public safety of the United States, hence emergency 25 % tariffs on all goods which will be raised to 50 %.
"I was just informed that two repatriation flights from the United States, with a large number of Illegal Criminals, were not allowed to land in Colombia. This order was given by Colombia's Socialist President Gustavo Petro, who is already very unpopular amongst his people. Petro's denial of these flights has jeopardized the National Security and Public Safety of the United States, so I have directed my Administration to immediately take the following urgent and decisive retaliatory measures," Trump stated in a post on Truth Social.
Trump has also stated that after a week, the tariffs on goods would rise to 50 per cent.
"Emergency 25% tariffs on all goods coming into the United States. In one week, the 25% tariffs will be raised to 50%," the post read.
Trump has also ordered immediate visa revocations on the Colombian Government Official and imposed visa sanctions on all supporters of the Columbian President's party.
Trump further said that more such measures may follow, and that the Columbian government must follow their 'legal obligations' of taking back their migrants.
"These measures are just the beginning. 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!" he said.
- With inputs from agencies
