Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella asked U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday to temporarily suspend tariffs on Colombian goods to help finance reconstruction after a deadly earthquake struck the country earlier this week.
In a 10-minute phone call described by de la Espriella as "very friendly and cordial", the Colombian leader sought relief from U.S. tariffs that rose from 10 percent to 12.5 percent on July 24, with exceptions for coffee and oil. Trump expressed condolences for the victims of the magnitude 7.4 quake, which killed at least 294 people and left 320 missing, devastating cities including Cali and Pereira. The United States announced an additional $11 million in humanitarian aid on Friday, bringing its total assistance to $26.5 million.
Colombia's Finance Minister Miguel Gomez said the government was not considering raising taxes to cover the estimated $6.4 billion needed for reconstruction, as the country faces a fiscal deficit equivalent to 6.4 percent of GDP and record public debt.