--- title: "Colombia requests US tariff suspension after earthquake devastates western cities" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/business/colombia-requests-us-tariff-suspension-after-earthquake-devastates-western-citie" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/colombia-requests-us-tariff-suspension-after-earthquake-devastates-western-citie" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/business/colombia-requests-us-tariff-suspension-after-earthquake-devastates-western-citie.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/colombia-requests-us-tariff-suspension-after-earthquake-devastates-western-citie" category: "Business & Economy" area: "Latin America" published: "2026-08-15T22:25:53.848Z" source_reported: "2026-08-15T21:57:06.000Z" updated: "2026-08-15T22:25:53.848Z" trust_score: 78 critic_score: 87 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-16T00:30:21.274419+00:00" --- # Colombia requests US tariff suspension after earthquake devastates western cities *President Abelardo de la Espriella asked Donald Trump to lift 12.5% duties on Colombian exports to aid recovery* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 78 of 100, higher is better. Trust 78: multiple named sources, independent outlets, specific figures with origins, and clear dates increase corroboration. - Craft 87 of 100, higher is better. Critic 87: explains relevance, quotes president, separates facts, provides specific data, and maintains clear narrative. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Hype 15: language is measured; no clickbait or exaggerated claims beyond the factual report. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella asked US President Donald Trump to suspend tariffs on Colombian exports after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on 12 August 2026. - The US had increased tariffs on Colombian products from 10% to 12.5% on 24 July, days before the earthquake, which killed 294 people and destroyed about 13,000 homes. - De la Espriella framed the request as economic relief for businesses affected by the disaster, which an engineering firm estimated caused $30 billion pesos (US$9.5 billion) in losses. - The US had already pledged US$26.5 million in aid and sent 22 rescue experts to Colombia, as reported by La Silla Vacía. Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella asked US President Donald Trump to temporarily suspend tariffs on Colombian products after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on 12 August 2026. The earthquake killed 294 people, injured 3,935 and left 320 missing, according to one digest. Another digest reported nearly 300 deaths and about 13,000 homes destroyed. The cities of Cali and Pereira were the worst affected. The US had raised tariffs on Colombian exports from 10% to 12.5% on 24 July, as reported by CTV News and The Straits Times. De la Espriella made the request in a 10-minute call with Trump on 15 August. He said the tariffs were affecting Colombian businesses already struggling with the earthquake’s impact. Trump expressed condolences and described the conversation as friendly, according to CTV News. An engineering firm, Ingeniar, estimated total losses at $30 billion pesos, approximately US$9.5 billion, La Silla Vacía reported. The US had already pledged US$26.5 million in aid and sent 22 rescue experts to Colombia, the same report said. De la Espriella also spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who sent a rescue team and thanked Colombia for recognising Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated digests mentioned the US$26.5 million in US aid or the $30 billion pesos loss estimate published by Ingeniar. The centre-rated report did not include the number of rescue experts the US sent. The left-rated report did not mention de la Espriella’s membership in the "Shield of the Americas" alliance. ## Who covered it Shares of the 18 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 11% (2) - Centre: 28% (5) - Right: 61% (11) 10 of 28 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-16T00:30:21.274419+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 10 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-16T00:45:11.603Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - La Silla Vacía led on the cost of the earthquake and the US aid already committed. It reported the $30 billion pesos (US$9.5 billion) estimate from Ingeniar and the US$26.5 million in US aid. The report also detailed the 22 US rescue experts sent to Colombia and the 12.5% tariff rate, which it said applied to Colombia and 40 other countries over forced labour concerns. It quoted de la Espriella’s description of the economic situation as "apocalyptic" and his mention of a "Plan Marshall" for reconstruction. ### Centre - CTV News led on the tariff request and the political relationship between de la Espriella and Trump. It reported the 10% to 12.5% tariff increase and the 24 July effective date. The report quoted de la Espriella’s request to Trump: "I asked him to consider to temporarily suspend the high tariffs that are affecting Colombian products, in order to give some relief to our business owners, who are facing very difficult times due to the effects of the earthquake." It also noted Trump’s endorsement of de la Espriella during his presidential campaign and de la Espriella’s membership in the "Shield of the Americas," an anti-cartel alliance led by Trump. ### Right - The four right-rated digests all reported the tariff request and the 12.5% rate. The Straits Times and Le Figaro noted the 10% to 12.5% increase. Clarín quoted de la Espriella’s statement that "the alliance with the United States is an imperative for reconstruction." None of the right-rated digests mentioned the US$26.5 million aid pledge or the $30 billion pesos loss estimate. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 2 - high: 13 - unknown: 10 - veryHigh: 3 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [n-tv](https://n-tv.de/panorama/Kolumbiens-Praesident-bittet-Trump-nach-Erdbeben-um-Zoll-Aussetzung-id31198196.html) — Hundreds of Missing People in Ruins: Colombia's President Asks Trump to Suspend Customs Duties After Earthquakes - [BT](https://bt.dk/udland/colombias-praesident-anmoder-trump-om-toldpause-efter-jordskaelv) — Colombian President Asks Trump for Tariff Break After Earthquake - [berlingske.dk](https://berlingske.dk/internationalt/colombias-praesident-anmoder-trump-om-toldpause-efter-jordskaelv) — Colombian President Asks Trump for Tariff Break After Earthquake - [RTÉ](https://rte.ie/news/2026/0816/1588056-colombia-tariffs) — Colombia president asks US to suspend tariffs over quake - [Radio France Internationale](https://rfi.fr/fr/am%C3%A9riques/20260815-s%C3%A9isme-en-colombie-le-pr%C3%A9sident-demande-%C3%A0-donald-trump-la-suspension-des-droits-de-douane) — Earthquake in Colombia: President Asks Donald Trump to Suspend Tariffs - [Al Jazeera](https://aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/15/colombia-asks-trump-to-suspend-tariffs-as-country-reels-from-earthquake) — Colombia asks Trump to suspend tariffs as country reels from earthquake - [BAE Negocios](https://baenegocios.com/mundo/de-la-espriella-le-pidio-a-trump-suspender-los-aranceles-tras-el-terremoto-en-colombia) — De La Espriella Asked Trump to Suspend Tariffs After the Earthquake in Colombia - [Free Malaysia Today News](https://freemalaysiatoday.com/category/highlight/2026/08/16/colombia-leader-asks-trump-to-suspend-tariffs-over-quake) — Colombia’s leader asks Trump to suspend tariffs after quake - [CBS News](https://cbsnews.com/news/colombia-president-asks-trump-to-suspend-tariffs-after-earthquake) — Colombian president says he asked Trump to suspend tariffs after devastating earthquake - [La Tercera](https://latercera.com/mundo/noticia/de-la-espriella-pide-a-trump-que-suspenda-los-aranceles-a-colombia-para-facilitar-la-recuperacion-tras-el-terremoto) — De La Espriella Calls on Trump to Suspend Tariffs on Colombia to Facilitate Recovery After the Earthquake - [La Nación, Grupo Nación](https://nacion.com/el-mundo/presidente-de-colombia-pide-a-trump-suspension-de/N6Z3ZJQ2OBHT7JWWHAGRT7ZM7A/story) — President of Colombia Calls on Trump to Stop Earthquake Tariffs · Global Voices - [El Comercio](https://elcomercio.pe/mundo/latinoamerica/presidente-de-colombia-abelardo-de-la-espriella-pide-a-donald-trump-suspension-de-aranceles-por-terremoto-ultimas-noticia) — President of Colombia Calls on Trump to Stop Earthquake Tariffs · Global Voices - [The Straits Times](https://straitstimes.com/world/colombias-leader-asks-trump-to-suspend-tariffs-over-quake) — Colombia’s leader asks Trump to suspend tariffs over quake - [www.cnews.fr](https://cnews.fr/monde/2026-08-15/seisme-en-colombie-le-president-demande-donald-trump-de-suspendre-ses-droits-de) — Earthquake in Colombia: President Asks Donald Trump to Suspend Customs Duties - [Bloomberg](https://bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-15/colombia-asks-us-to-pause-tariffs-in-deadly-quake-s-aftermath) — Colombia Asks US to Pause Tariffs in Deadly Quake’s Aftermath - [noticiaslatam.lat](https://noticiaslatam.lat/20260815/de-la-espriella-pide-a-trump-suspender-temporalmente-los-aranceles-contra-colombia-1174689291.html) — De La Espriella Asks Trump to Temporarily Suspend Tariffs Against Colombia - [CTV News](https://ctvnews.ca/world/trumps-tariffs/article/colombia-leader-asks-trump-to-suspend-tariffs-over-quake) — Colombia leader asks Trump to suspend tariffs over quake - [La República](https://larepublica.co/economia/de-la-espriella-y-trump-conversaron-del-terremoto-y-eliminacion-de-aranceles-4460057) — Espriella and Trump Discussed the Earthquake and Elimination of Tariffs - [Fréttir - mbl.is](https://mbl.is/frettir/erlent/2026/08/15/bidur_trump_vaegdar_eftir_jardskjalftann) — Trump Asks for Mercy After Earthquake - [newscentraltv.com](https://newscentraltv.com/colombia-urges-trump-to-suspend-tariffs) — Colombia Urges Trump to Suspend Tariffs - [Le Figaro](https://lefigaro.fr/international/seisme-en-colombie-le-president-demande-a-trump-de-suspendre-les-droits-de-douane-20260815) — Earthquake in Colombia: President Asks Trump to Suspend Customs Duties - [La Silla Vacía](https://lasillavacia.com/en-vivo/abelardo-hablo-con-trump-agradecio-ayudas-y-pidio-suspender-aranceles) — Abelardo Spoke to Trump: He Thanked Help and Asked to Suspend Tariffs - [Clarin](https://clarin.com/mundo/presidente-colombia-hablo-trump-terremoto-pidio-estados-unidos-suspenda-aranceles_0_n4vOdeUNWm.html) — President of Colombia Spoke to Trump About the Earthquake and Asked Him to Suspend Tariffs - [El Mundo](https://elmundo.es/internacional/2026/08/15/6a80d33efdddff88538b4589.html) — Colombian President Calls on Trump to Temporary Suspension of Earthquake Tariffs · Global Voices - [BioBioChile](https://biobiochile.cl/noticias/internacional/america-latina/2026/08/15/de-la-espriella-pide-a-trump-suspender-temporalmente-aranceles-a-colombia-por-terremoto.shtml) — De La Espriella Asks Trump to Temporarily Suspend Tariffs on Colombia by Earthquake - [CNN Brasil](https://cnnbrasil.com.br/internacional/presidente-da-colombia-solicita-a-trump-fim-de-tarifas-apos-terremoto) — President of Colombia Asks Trump to End Tariffs After Earthquake - [El Economista](https://eleconomista.com.mx/internacionales/colombia-pide-trump-suspender-aranceles-millonarias-perdidas-terremoto-20260815-828464.html) — Colombia Asks Trump to Suspend Tariffs After Millions of Earthquake Losses - [oem.com.mx](https://oem.com.mx/elsoldemexico/mundo/de-la-espriella-pide-a-trump-suspension-de-aranceles-por-terremoto-en-colombia-31594168) — De La Espriella Asks Trump to Suspend Tariffs by Earthquake in Colombia - El Sol De México ## Questions **What did Colombia ask the US to do after the earthquake?** Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella asked US President Donald Trump to temporarily suspend tariffs on Colombian exports. The US had raised tariffs from 10% to 12.5% in late July, days before the 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on 12 August 2026. **How many people died in the Colombia earthquake?** Reports disagree on the exact toll. One digest reported 294 deaths, 3,935 injured and 320 missing. Another reported nearly 300 deaths and about 13,000 homes destroyed. The earthquake struck western Colombia on 12 August 2026. **How much damage did the earthquake cause?** An engineering firm, Ingeniar, estimated total losses at $30 billion pesos, approximately US$9.5 billion. The US had pledged US$26.5 million in aid, as reported by La Silla Vacía. The earthquake struck western Colombia on 12 August 2026. **Which outlets reported the US aid to Colombia?** La Silla Vacía reported the US had pledged US$26.5 million in aid and sent 22 rescue experts. None of the right-rated digests mentioned the aid pledge. The centre-rated report did not include the number of rescue experts. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/business/colombia-requests-us-tariff-suspension-after-earthquake-devastates-western-citie. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Colombia requests US tariff suspension after earthquake devastates western cities", https://mediabias.news/business/colombia-requests-us-tariff-suspension-after-earthquake-devastates-western-citie