Global Trade & Foreign Policy Insights

On January 27th, President Trump threatened to impose tariffs on U.S. imports of copper and aluminum (metals needed for U.S. military hardware production), as well as steel.

On January 26, 2025, a feud between the United States and Colombia began pertaining to U.S. military flights carrying deportees to Colombia. After initially providing approval for the two aircraft to land in Colombia, Colombian President Gustavo Petro blocked their landing. According to his multiple social media posts, he explained that he was objecting to the use of military planes as opposed to commercial airlines to deport the migrants. In response, President Trump posted on social media that his administration will institute a number of actions against Colombia.

On January 20th, President Trump issued a memorandum titled the America First Trade Policy to the Secretaries of State, the Treasury, Defense, Commerce, Homeland Security, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the U.S. Trade Representative, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, and the Senior Counselor of Trade and Manufacturing. 

Following his inauguration on Monday, January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump held off on issuing an executive order instituting additional tariffs of any form.