ANALDEX President Says US Would Remove 12.5% Tariff in the Coming Days

Colombia's NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FOREIGN TRADE (ANALDEX) President Javier Diaz Molina announced that the United States plans to remove a 12.5% tariff on various products due to forced labor concerns. During the 38th National Exporters Congress, Diaz Molina reported that the current administration had published a regulatory decree for public comment, aiming to clarify the path toward the U.S. decision.

Diaz Molina stated that the tariff could potentially drop to zero. The White House has expressed interest in granting Colombia treatment similar to that given to Ecuador, but the hurdle was Washington's demand for a local legal instrument to prevent goods produced with forced labor from entering Colombia. Diaz Molina noted that Colombia needed to establish a risk management system to address the issue.

The lack of such a legal framework during former President Gustavo Petro's administration contributed to delays. With the current government of Abelardo de la Espriella, the regulatory decree is now open for public comments, paving the way for the U.S. decision. Over 1,700 Colombian companies would benefit from the tariff removal, particularly labor-intensive sectors like floriculture.

However, the tariff agenda with the U.S. still includes unresolved issues such as tariffs on iron, steel, and aluminum, which impact around 2,490 companies. Diaz Molina emphasized the strategic importance of the United States, which accounts for 30% of Colombia's foreign sales. He stressed that Colombia should pursue a dual commercial approach without ideological contradictions, emphasizing the need to export more to the United States while diversifying markets.