Tensions between Ecuador and Colombia intensified on Thursday after Quito announced it will raise tariffs on Colombian imports to 100 percent starting in May, marking a sharp escalation in an ongoing trade dispute.
The move came a day after Ecuador recalled its ambassador from Bogotá for consultations, following remarks by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who described jailed former Ecuadorian vice president Jorge Glas as a “political prisoner.”
Glas, who served under former presidents Rafael Correa and Lenin Moreno, was sentenced last year to 13 years in prison on corruption charges, marking his fourth conviction since 2017.
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa strongly rejected Petro’s comments, further straining relations between the two neighboring countries.
Petro criticized Ecuador’s tariff decision as “terrible” and warned that Colombia could withdraw from the Andean Community, which also includes Bolivia and Peru, signaling potential wider regional consequences.
The dispute dates back to January, when Noboa accused Colombia of insufficient cooperation in combating drug trafficking and illegal mining along their shared border. Tariffs were initially raised to 30 percent, then increased to 50 percent before reaching the current level.
In response, Colombia imposed its own 50 percent tariffs and halted electricity exports to Ecuador, which is facing an ongoing energy shortage.
Efforts to resolve the dispute through diplomatic talks have so far failed to produce a breakthrough, raising concerns about further economic and political fallout in the region.
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