Trump backs off trade threats after Colombia agrees to deportation flights

The United States and Colombia averted a trade war, for now, after the White House said late Sunday that Bogotá agreed to accept deportation flights from the United States.

The two nations had spent much of the day in a tense standoff, with President Donald Trump threatening to impose steep tariffs and visa restrictions on Colombia after the South American nation turned away two deportation flights.

Earlier Sunday, Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro said on social media that he had denied entry to U.S. “military planes” carrying Colombian migrants and made them turn back, specifying that deportations should be carried out with “dignity and respect.” In response, Trump announced 25 percent tariffs on all Colombian goods coming into the United States.