The United States announced that it will maintain 10% tariffs to Colombia from August 7. The country was not part of the table that was revealed in the decree, which was excluded from the tariff imposition.
Exclusion is due to several factors. Amcham explained that Colombia has not been classified as a nation in the process of negotiation or with substantial commitments on defense or national security with the United States. In addition, there have been no significant advances in tariff reciprocity or bilateral strategic alignment. Although it does not appear as a transgressive country, which avoids sanctions, is not beneficiary of special treatment.
According to sources cited by Reuters, USA A 10% base tariff will apply to the countries with which it maintains commercial surplus, such as Colombia, while it will impose rates of 15% or more to nations with deficitsuch as India (25%), Serbia (35%) or Myanmar (40%). In contrast, Mexico retains advantages thanks to T-MEC, although it maintains 25% rates on products not sheltered by the agreement.
Opportunities and strategies against the new scenario
Amcham suggest that Colombia could capitalize on the increase in tariffs to regional and Asian competitors. Sectors such as clothing, flowers, banana and industrialized coffee could benefit from the loss of competitiveness of countries such as Vietnam, India or China, whose products now face higher rates.
Among the strategic recommendations that Amcham is is the opening of diplomatic channels to request preferential treatment, following the example of Mexico or Japan. The need to strengthen the traceability mechanisms of origin is also highlighted, especially through programs such as the Vallejo Plan, Free Zones or International Certifications accepted by the CBP (US Customs and Border Protection).
Finally, They recommend constant institutional monitoring about judicial decisions in the US.since the legality of these tariffs under the IEEPA is being debated in court. A possible failure against could drastically modify the tariff scheme and open new opportunities for Colombia in the medium term.
The document also indicates that the rate will enter into force from 00:01, east time, seven days after the date of that order.
Reciprocal tariffs between 10% and 41% to several countries
United States president Donald Trump, on Thursday a decree signed by which imposes reciprocal tariffs between 10% and 41% to dozens of countries.
Meanwhile, Trump modified reciprocal tariffs for some countriesthe White House reported.
The United States will implement new rules of origin to determine tariffs on transfined products in the coming weeksSaid a high -ranking official of the Trump government, who stressed that the details are being finalized.
The official added that If the United States has a commercial surplus with a given country, tariffs for that country will be 10%.
He explained that If the United States has a small commercial deficit with a given country, tariffs for that country will be 15%.
The official maintained, meanwhile, that in the case of India, the challenges include geopolitical differences over the BRICS and Russia group, and that these differences cannot be resolved overnight.
He stressed, meanwhile, that A final decision has not been made regarding China.
The executive order increases tariffs on Canadian products from 25% to 35%. The new rates will come into force from today.
It will also impose a 19% tariff on Malaysia’s exports to the United States, a lower rate than the 25% tariff with which it threatened in July.
Trump Redefine Commercial Policy of the United States with new tariff executive order
The White House issued a new executive order on July 31 that replaces the tariffs established last April and completely redefines the United States commercial approach. The measure is covered in legal frameworks such as IEEPA, the National Emergencies Act and Section 604 of the Act Trade of 1974, reaffirming the declaration of economic emergency for the persistent commercial deficits. According to the new regulations, the previous tariffs are replaced, not accumulated, and the sanctions for transforded products are hardening, with 40%rates, fines and disqualifications.
The new tariff scheme establishes a base tariff of 10% for countries not listed in Annex I and applies differentiated rates according to the state of commercial relations. Canada, for example, will face tariffs of 35% since August 2, while Mexico received an extension of 90 days. Other countries such as India, South Korea and Japan are also affected with tariffs between 15% and 41%. Only the goods that are already in transit before August 7 and dispatched before October 5 will be temporarily exempt.
With this decision, Amcham explained that President Donald Trump consolidates a structural turn in American commercial policy, marking distance from the decades of globalization and free trade. The new system imposes 10% on countries with commercial surplus with the US, 15% to those who record deficit, and even higher rates for extreme imbalance cases, affecting 26 countries.
Tariff policy objectives
Together with the executive order announced on July 31, the White House revealed the strategic pillars that support the new tariff policy. The government frames this decision as a firm step to recover the economic sovereignty of the United States and protect its industrial base against decades of what it considers unequal commercial relations.
Among the central axes is the structural purpose of the measure: to reverse free trade policies considered harmful, Strengthen the national industry, and guarantee the economic and national security of the country. According to President Trump, the goal is to generate well -paid jobs and promote a competitive environment for local production.
Another key component is the incentive for foreign direct investment. Foreign companies that decide to manufacture or relocate their production within the US territory may be exempt from new tariffs. To facilitate this reindustrialization, the White House said it will implement rapid approval processes for these projects.
The agreements in process
The White House also revealed a series of key bilateral agreements that support the implementation of the new tariff strategy. Among the most prominent is the Pact with the European Union, which includes purchases for US $ 750,000 million in American energy and new investments for US $ 600,000 million until 2028. In return, the block accepted a preferential tariff of 15%.
Japan also agreed an investment of US $ 550,000 million in strategic sectors and improvements in access to American products, maintaining a 15%base tariff. With the United Kingdom, an understanding was achieved that significantly exports exports from the US, although without specific figures.
For its part, Negotiations with countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea, Vietnam and other Asia’s commercial partners, are continue that could join the preferential scheme if they reach similar agreements in the coming months.
