Colombia and Ecuador Impose 100% Reciprocal Import Tariffs

Colombia and Ecuador have entered a full-scale trade war, with both nations imposing 100% tariffs on imports from each other by April 12, 2026. The escalation effectively halts formal bilateral trade valued at approximately $2.8 billion annually. The conflict began when President Daniel Noboa of Ecuador announced tariff hikes to 100% starting May 1, citing Colombia's failure to curb drug trafficking and organized crime along the shared border.

In response, Colombian President Gustavo Petro recalled his ambassador from Quito and implemented matching 100% tariffs on April 11 and 12, though he maintained a zero percent tariff for essential industrial materials. The diplomatic collapse was further accelerated by Petro's description of former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas as a "political prisoner" and his decision to grant Glas Colombian nationality.

Beyond tariffs, the dispute has seen Colombia suspend energy sales to Ecuador and Ecuador increase transit fees for Ecopetrol oil from $3 to $30 per barrel. While the Andean Community of Nations (CAN) attempted to facilitate dialogue, negotiations have been suspended indefinitely. Consequently, Colombia has formally requested full membership in Mercosur, a move that threatens to render the 57-year-old CAN pact irrelevant by reducing it to three members.