Colombia's President Asks Trump to Suspend Tariffs Amid Earthquake Recovery

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has formally requested that U.S. President Donald Trump temporarily suspend tariffs on Colombian products, citing the devastating impact of last week's 7.4-magnitude earthquake. The appeal came during a phone call on Saturday night, in which de la Espriella also thanked Trump for American aid already dispatched to the disaster zone.

The earthquake struck on Monday, killing at least 289 people and injuring nearly 4,000 others. It has left 143 people missing, according to government figures, though civilian databases suggest the number could be far higher. The quake's epicenter was in Chocó, one of Colombia's poorest regions, and caused widespread destruction in western cities including Pereira, Cali, and Quibdó, as well as along the Pacific coast.

De la Espriella, who took office just days before the disaster, has close ties to Trump, who backed him in the June 21 runoff election. In his social media post, the president said he asked Trump to consider the tariff suspension "to provide relief to our businesspeople, who are facing very difficult times due to the effects of the earthquake."

The White House has not yet responded to the request. The U.S. State Department has pledged $26.5 million in assistance, including food, shelters, and health supplies.

In Cali, Colombia's third-largest city, rescue teams continue to search for more than 70 people reported missing. Mayor Alejandro Eder said that despite more than 120 hours having passed since the quake, workers remain hopeful. "Miracles do happen," he said, noting that efforts are focused on locations where victims are still believed to be trapped.

The government has declared the earthquake a natural disaster. So far, it has destroyed over 14,700 homes and damaged more than 81,500 others.