Colombia raises tariffs draft

Colombia has drafted a decree to raise tariffs on imports from Ecuador to 50%, but the measure is still a proposal and has not taken effect. (mincit.gov.co) The draft would modify Decree 0170, which already imposed a 30% ad valorem tariff on Ecuadorian goods and added border restrictions tied to what Bogotá called national security. President Gustavo Petro’s government published that earlier decree on February 20, 2026. (dapre.presidencia.gov.co) Colombia’s Commerce Ministry said on January 23, 2026 that its 30% measure covered 23 tariff headings and 73 subheadings from Ecuador. The ministry said the affected imports were concentrated in fish products, palm oil, rice, chemicals, plastics and metal manufactures. (mincit.gov.co) That January statement also said Ecuador had announced a 30% tariff on Colombian imports starting February 1, 2026. Colombia’s new draft points to later Ecuadorian restrictions at the Rumichaca crossing and on crude shipments through San Miguel as the basis for a tougher response. (mincit.gov.co 1) (mincit.gov.co 2) The dispute now sits inside the rules of the Andean Community, the trade bloc that includes both countries. Colombia’s draft cites Article 73 of the Cartagena Agreement on restrictions, while the bloc’s codified treaty says its tariff-free liberalization program is “automatic and irrevocable” for member states. (comunidadandina.org) (mincit.gov.co) Colombia has framed its steps as reciprocal and temporary, not a withdrawal from regional trade rules. The Commerce Ministry said the January measures were adopted to “restore the balance” of trading conditions with Ecuador. (mincit.gov.co) The economic exposure is concentrated in goods that move heavily across the shared border. Colombia said imports covered by its January action totaled 683,825.8 metric tons between January 2023 and October 2025. (mincit.gov.co) Outside reporting suggests the fight could keep escalating beyond 50%. Bloomberg reported on April 10, 2026 that Colombia would impose 100% tariffs on Ecuadorian imports, though the official Colombian source surfaced here is still the published draft to modify Decree 0170. (bloomberg.com) (mincit.gov.co) What happens next depends on whether Bogotá turns the draft into a signed decree and whether the Andean system treats the border and tariff measures as lawful exceptions. For now, the clearest fact is that Colombia has moved from a 30% tariff already in force to a published plan for a steeper retaliation. (dapre.presidencia.gov.co) (mincit.gov.co)