Colombia leader asks Trump to suspend tariffs over quake

Colombia's newly elected President Abelardo de la Espriella has requested U.S. President Donald Trump to temporarily suspend tariffs on Colombian goods in light of the country's recent devastating earthquake. The tariffs, which were raised from 10% to 12.5% in late July, have been particularly hard on Colombian businesses struggling to recover from the effects of the disaster.

In a conversation with Trump, De la Espriella expressed his condolences over the loss of nearly 300 lives and the destruction of over 13,000 homes in the western cities of Cali and Pereira. The U.S. leader conveyed his sympathies, and the two men reportedly had a cordial discussion about the challenges ahead for Colombia. De la Espriella, a right-wing lawyer-turned-politician endorsed by Trump during the presidential campaign, recently joined the Shield of the Americas, an anti-cartel alliance led by Trump and consisting of pro-U.S. governments in Latin America.