Monday
Monday 27th January 2024.
January 26, 2025
The U.S. and Colombia pulled back from the brink of a trade war on Sunday after the White House said the South American nation had agreed to accept military aircraft carrying deported migrants.
U.S. President Donald Trump had threatened tariffs and sanctions on Colombia to punish it for earlier refusing to accept military flights carrying deportees as part of his sweeping immigration crackdown.
But in a statement late on Sunday, the White House said Colombia had agreed to accept the migrants after all and Washington would not impose its threatened penalties.
“The Government of Colombia has agreed to all of President Trump’s terms, including the unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on U.S. military aircraft, without limitation or delay,” it said.
Draft orders imposing tariffs and sanctions on Colombia would be “held in reserve, and not signed, unless Colombia fails to honor this agreement”, it added.
“The government of Colombia … has the presidential plane ready to facilitate the return of Colombians who were going to arrive in the country this morning on deportation flights.”
The statement did not specifically say that the agreement included military flights, but it did not contradict the White House announcement.
Murillo and Colombia’s ambassador to the United States will travel to Washington in coming days to follow up on agreements that led to the exchange of diplomatic notes between the two governments, the Colombian statement added.
Washington’s draft measures, now on hold, include imposing 25% tariffs on all Colombian goods coming into the U.S., which would go up to 50% in one week; a travel ban and visa revocations on Colombian government officials; and emergency treasury, banking and financial sanctions.
Trump also threatened to direct enhanced border inspections of Colombian nationals and cargo. Ahead of the announcement of an agreement on the flights, a State Department spokesperson said the United States had suspended visa processing at the U.S. embassy in Bogota.
The Panama Canal is at the center of geopolitical tensions these days. Two key events next week reinforce this reality. On Tuesday, January 28, the US Senate Commerce Committee will hold a hearing entitled Tariffs and Foreign Influence: Examining the Panama Canal and its Impact on US Trade and National Security , convened by Republican Senator Ted Cruz . In addition, Marco Rubio , Secretary of State in the Donald Trump administration , is expected to arrive in Panama .
All this is happening in a scenario marked by Trump’s threat to regain control of the strategic route, using Chinese interference as an unfounded argument.
What is the specific objective of this hearing? Is it an exploratory exercise or does it seek to lay the groundwork for future legislative actions? What actions could the Senate recommend following this event? What can the Panamanian government do about it? These are some of the questions that arise on the subject.
U.S.Senate committee hearings are a mechanism for gathering and analyzing information in the early stages of a legislative process. They allow us to understand who members of Congress are listening to, what their policy priorities are, and what perceptions are guiding the legislative agenda.
“They could lead to legislation or simply information,” says Ricardo Alberto Arias , former foreign minister and former ambassador of Panama to the U.S. However, he warns that the possibility of this hearing on the Canal tariffs leading to legislation is “remote.”
“The Senate holds these meetings constantly on current issues,” adds Arias, who also believes that, since it is the Trade Committee, the focus will probably be more on tariffs than on the alleged violation of international treaties, as Trump and his followers imply.
Attorney Rodrigo Noriega highlights two reasons why these hearings are relevant: they are broadcast live (in this case, on YouTube), which makes them a “media spectacle,” and the committee chairman, Ted Cruz, has the power to choose the guests. “If you want a balanced hearing, you invite people with diverse perspectives,” Noriega says.
Witnesses called by Cruz include Louis E. Sola , chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC); Daniel B. Maffei, commissioner of the same agency; Eugene Kontorovich , professor at George Mason University School of Law; and Joseph Kramek , executive director of the World Shipping Council.
Sola, the newly appointed president of the FMC, has ties to the company Amador Marina, SA , which received 11.3 hectares on the Amador Causeway from the Ministry of Public Security to develop a private marine landfill on Flamenco Island, at the entrance to the Canal. The company also has concessions granted by the Panama Maritime Authority and the Administrative Unit of Reverted Assets, both with 20-year renewable terms.
According to the Senate Commerce Committee’s website, another witness will be announced in the hours leading up to the hearing. Unofficially, it was learned that Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martínez Acha and Panama’s ambassador to Washington, José Miguel Alemán, could attend.
Noriega agrees with Arias that, after the hearing, two scenarios could occur: the Senate could send notes with transcripts and findings to the corresponding authorities, or it could decide to draft a bill based on the information gathered. “Every time a controversial issue arises or one that shakes public opinion, they hold hearings. It is the Senate’s mechanism to delve deeper into an issue,” he explains.
According to Noriega, Panama must remain “very alert” to the actions of the Senate, since this legislative body has the ability to slow down or speed up President Trump. He also underlines the importance of lobbying with Republican and Democratic senators.
He also said that the Panamanian diplomatic corps in Washington should act firmly and, if necessary, hire lobbying firms specializing in legislative issues.
Recently, it was reported that the Panamanian government hired the firm BGR Group, known for its ties to the Republican Party, to provide government relations services.
Panamanian authorities reported on Sunday the seizure of 569 drug packages found in a container bound for Spain.
The seizure was carried out by the Drug Prosecutor’s Office of Colón and Guna Yala, and was carried out during the search and seizure of a container that had “anomalies on the floor,” the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP, Prosecutor’s Office) indicated on its social networks.
“569 packages of suspected drugs were located. The container was destined for Spain,” says the official information, which was published on the X network accompanied by a photo of the stash.
Typically, drug packages weigh one kilo each. Cocaine is the most commonly seized illicit substance in Panama.
Panama is used as a bridge for drugs produced in South America that are mainly destined for the United States, the world’s largest consumer of cocaine, and also Europe.
The Central American country closed 2024 with the seizure of more than 80 tons of illicit substances, according to official figures. In 2023, the figure was 119.2 tons, the vast majority of which was cocaine, according to data released by the Ministry of Public Security.
The Panama Canal has been managed with excellence and to the highest international standards, highlights the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Panama (Cciap) in its regular Sunday column, La Cámara Opina.
The private sector association dedicates this section to highlighting the role that the interoceanic route plays in the economic development of the country and as a vital tool for global trade.
At a time when President Donald Trump is threatening to reverse Panamanian management, the Chamber of Commerce says: “Managing an infrastructure of this magnitude, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, is a responsibility that we Panamanians have assumed with seriousness and long-term vision.”
The Chamber of Commerce states that the Panama Canal is, without a doubt, one of the greatest symbols of national identity and pride. Its relevance transcends our borders and makes it one of the most important infrastructures for global maritime trade.
” All this under the impeccable Panamanian administration, which, since assuming control of this monumental work, has demonstrated to the world the capacity, commitment and excellence of our country,” he emphasizes.
He added that since the Canal passed into Panamanian hands, its operation has not only maintained the highest international standards, but has also “exceeded expectations in terms of innovation, sustainability and efficiency.”
He said that one of the greatest achievements of this administration has been the expansion of the Canal, a historic project that transformed its capacity and adapted its operations to the needs of global trade.
“The construction of the third set of locks allowed us to receive larger vessels, consolidating the Canal as a strategic route for maritime transport and guaranteeing its competitiveness compared to other alternative routes. This project, led and executed under the Panamanian administration, is a clear reflection of our ability to undertake large-scale challenges and exceed expectations .”
The business association also notes that the economic impact of the Canal under Panamanian management is undeniable.
“Direct contributions to the Panamanian State have been fundamental to the country’s growth and development. These transfers have financed important infrastructure projects, education and social programs that benefit thousands of Panamanians. Beyond the numbers, the Canal represents a key tool for building the future of Panamanians.”
Additionally, he says that a sustainable approach has been integrated into the operation. “The protection of the watershed, the optimization of water use and responsible environmental practices reflect a commitment not only to the economy, but also to the preservation of our natural resources.”
The business community defends the interoceanic route and points out that it represents the capacity of a country that is small in territory but immense in determination.
“The Panama Canal also has a profound symbolic impact. It represents the ability of a country small in territory, but immense in determination, to take control of its destiny and successfully manage one of the most important infrastructures in the world. It is a constant reminder of what we can achieve when we work together as a nation, with discipline, vision and pride.”