Well I can't have a relaxing Sunday under the Trump administration... The news just broke that Trump announced retaliatory tariffs on Colombia after its president blocked US military deportation flights from landing. This news is huge for investors like me because this is the first instance of Trump using economic pressure to force other nations to fall in line with his mass deportation plans since he took office last week.
Earlier today, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced he had blocked two US military flights carrying migrants heading toward the country and called on the US to establish better protocols in its treatment of migrants. Like clockwork, an impulsive Trump criticized him on social media while announcing a slate of new sanctions and policies targeting the country. These tariffs will impact all imports from the country at 25% and Trump threatened that they will be raised to 50% in a week. Trump also put a travel ban for Colombian citizens, and a revocation of visas for Colombian officials in the US.
As an investor I think this news may create some volatility in markets while increases prices for good like coffee which is one of their largest exports. The fact that Trump said these measures are just the beginning as more uncetainty which markets don't like.
I find this whole situation sad and funny. I feel for all the people impacted and funny because I thingColombian President Petro may be trolling Trump. Petro had authorized flights and provided all needed authorizations and then canceled his authorization when the planes were in the air! This may be why Trump is so angry becuase he knows he looks weak and the fool right now.
Other countries have seized this opportunity to call out Trump's action. Brazil jumped on the bandwagon condemning the Trump administration’s handling of repatriated migrants on deportation flights. They denounced the treatment of Brazilian nationals and brought to light the condition of the who arrived in the country and deemed their arrival as degrading. I can't wait to see what dram unfolds this week with both Trump and the markets.