Colombia’s government is planning reciprocal tariffs of 50% on imports from Ecuador, intensifying an economically damaging spat between the ideological foes. 

Colombia’s trade ministry published a draft decree on March 2, raising duties on around 300 goods from the current 30% levy. It still needs to be published in the official gazette to take effect. 

This was in retaliation to Ecuador’s announcement that it would increase tariffs on imports from Colombia to 50% starting March 1. Ecuador said it was doing this due to a lack of effective measures by Colombia to combat insecurity on its side of the border.

Colombia’s government says that Ecuador’s tariff increase makes exports there uneconomic, according to the draft regulation. It estimates that imports from Ecuador would fall by 75%, or $640 million, while exports would drop by 79%, or $1.5 billion, as a result of the dispute. 

The crisis erupted in January after Ecuadorean leader Daniel Noboa, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, announced the tariffs. He alleged that the leftist administration of President Gustavo Petro had failed to cooperate on border security and rein in the criminal gangs that ship cocaine across the jungles and mountains that straddle the frontier.

In 2025, Colombia exported $1.8 billion to its neighbor, according to the national statistics agency.