By MANUEL RUEDA
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — The White Home is urging Colombia to halt the implementation of recent auto security laws that would jeopardize American automotive exports to Colombia, as each nations put together to debate tariffs not too long ago imposed on Colombian merchandise together with espresso, avocados, flowers and oil.
In a letter to Colombia’s Ministry of Commerce, U.S. Commerce Consultant Jamieson Greer mentioned that plans by Colombia to vary certification necessities for vehicles and auto components coming into the nation might result in the “total cessation” of U.S. automotive exports to Colombia, which had been value nearly $700 million final yr.
The letter, dated April 11, was leaked to Colombian media retailers Tuesday and a duplicate was additionally obtained by The Related Press. In it Greer warns that if Colombia doesn’t change its plans, it could be conducting an “unfair trading practice that may generate swift enforcement action by the United States.”
Colombian Minister of Commerce Cielo Rusinque refused to touch upon the letter, however in a radio interview Tuesday she mentioned the security laws could be amongst a number of points that can be up for consideration when representatives of each nations meet to debate tariffs later this month.
Since 2021, Colombia has been creating new technical necessities for brakes, automotive home windows, tires and seatbelts which can be aligned with worldwide security protocols developed by the United Nations.
Colombia’s authorities now needs producers who promote vehicles and automotive components to Colombia to get certification from a 3rd get together that verifies their merchandise meet these worldwide requirements.
The workplace of the U.S. commerce consultant argues in its letter that vehicles manufactured in america should already adjust to U.S. federal motor security requirements and that Colombia has not offered any proof that these requirements are inadequate.
In a report on international commerce obstacles revealed earlier this yr, the U.S. commerce consultant’s workplace mentioned that producers have advised the U.S. authorities that they lack the capability to acquire third get together verification for his or her auto merchandise.
The dispute over automotive exports comes simply months after Colombia and america nearly entered a commerce conflict over deportation flights.
In January President Gustavo Petro refused to just accept deportation flights from america, arguing that Colombian residents on these flights had been being handled in an inhumane method. In response, Trump threatened to impose 25% tariffs on Colombian exports reminiscent of espresso, flowers, avocados and oil.
The dispute was solved in lower than 24 hours, with Petro as soon as once more accepting deportation flights from the U.S., although most of those are actually operated by Colombia’s Air Drive.
Colombia was hit with 10% tariffs on its exports to the U.S. earlier this month, when Trump unveiled his new financial emergency measures.
Final week, the Colombian authorities despatched letters to U.S. officers inviting them to start out negotiations over the brand new tariffs, which might significantly harm the nation’s agricultural exports.
The U.S. is Colombia’s largest buying and selling associate, and purchases about 30% of its annual exports.
Colombia and the U.S. signed a free commerce settlement in 2012, that has additionally boosted Colombian imports of American corn, soy, equipment and chemical compounds.
In 2024, the U.S. had a 1.3 billion commerce surplus with Colombia.
