Colombia and Ecuador are engaged in a tariff dispute that could affect both countries. At the beginning of February, Ecuador imposed 30% tariffs on products imported from its northern neighbor, and then Colombia responded with reciprocal tariffs at the same rate. Ecuador has now escalated the dispute by raising the tariff to 50%. Here is a summary of what is happening.

The most recent move by Ecuador was on February 26. “After confirming the lack of implementation of concrete and effective border security measures by Colombia, Ecuador is obliged to adopt sovereign actions. Starting March 1, the security fee on imports originating from Colombia will be increased from 30% to 50%,” the Servicio Nacional de Aduana said in a press release as retaliation for the announcement of reciprocal tariffs by Colombia.

Before that, the Colombian government had officially imposed a reciprocal 30% tariff on imports of goods originating from Ecuador, as established in Decree 170 of 2026, signed on February 24 by President Gustavo Petro and his ministerial cabinet.

The decree states that the measure responds to the 30% tariff previously imposed by Ecuador on Colombian products has generated “an estimated 97% drop in exports to that country, equivalent to an annual reduction of approximately $1.803 billion USD.”

Colombia has suspended electricity delivery to Ecuador in retaliation.

The Colombian decision came as a direct response to the so-called “security fee” introduced by Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa on February 1, which applied the same rate to goods originating from Colombia.

At the time, the Secretaría General de Comunicaciones de Ecuador, announced the measure through the social media platform X, stating that the objective was to “protect national security and strengthen customs controls and security in the border area.” According to President Noboa, the decision was based on “a lack of reciprocity and the need for stronger security measures,” adding that the tariff would remain in place “until there is a genuine joint commitment to combat drug trafficking and illegal mining along the shared border.”

These actions mark an escalation in trade tensions between the two countries, which have faced growing political and diplomatic challenges in recent months. Colombia had already suspended electricity exports to Ecuador following the initial tariffs, while Quito increased fees for transporting Colombian petroleum through its pipelines.

Products affected by tariffs include beans, rice, fats and oils, unsweetened cocoa powder, fresh bananas, ethyl alcohol and denatured spirits, as well as insecticides, fungicides, and disinfectants, among others. Although the tariff is initially paid by importers at the border, these costs are typically passed on to end consumers through price adjustments.

Despite historically close trade relations, it remains unclear whether both countries will reach a short-term agreement, or move toward formal dispute resolution mechanisms. On February 6, foreign ministers from both nations held a negotiation meeting in Quito, though no formal agreement was reached. Ecuador, at the time, conditioned further decisions on progress in security and energy cooperation.

Additionally, according to Bogotá-based El Tiempo daily newspaper, both governments have filed formal complaints with the Comunidad Andina de Naciones (CAN), which must determine whether the claims will be accepted. Analysts generally agree that a diplomatic solution remains the most viable path to resolving the current trade dispute.

The Central Market in Tulcán, Ecuador, near the Colombian border, one of the most affected areas by the new tariffs. (photo: Jadin Samit Vergara)

Headline photo: Border between Tulcán, Ecuador, and Ipiales, Colombia, at the Rumichaca International Bridge. (Photo Jadin Samit Vergara)

Organized by Agrilink and Corferias , the exposition served as a platform for showcasing technological advancements in agribusiness, including drones, software applications, and other digital tools. Sustainability was a reported theme throughout the event. “Once again, we connect all the actors of the agri-food ecosystem with their audiences, consolidating ourselves as the epicenter of the evolution of agriculture,” said Doris Chingaté, project manager for Expo Agrofuturo at Corferias.

The AgroMatch business roundtable held 459 meetings connecting 160 exhibitors with 33 buyers. Photo credit: Corferias.

Ricardo Jaramillo, CEO of Agrilink, stated, “We have been connecting field producers with technology for almost 20 years. Implementing tools such as technification, data management, and the use of drones allows industry players to improve productivity, optimize times, and increase profitability.”

A significant component of the event was the business roundtable, named AgroMatch, which facilitated 459 meetings between 160 exhibitors and 33 buyers. Participants came from Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Spain, the United States, Guatemala, Panama, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela. These meetings resulted in projected business expectations of $5,976,710 USD.

The dollar value of committed deals is as follows:

• 1 to 3 months: $685,245
• 3 to 6 months: $1,763,598
• 6 to 12 months: $1,856,324

Products negotiated included fresh produce such as Hass avocados, citrus fruits, and various tropical fruits, as well as meat, dairy, coffee, and cocoa.

The academic portion of the event, the Agricultural Innovation Forum (FIXA), featured over 15 speakers and more than 100 activities. Discussions focused on topics like sustainability in livestock, soil management, new markets, and technology.

The next edition of Expo Agrofuturo is scheduled to be held in Bogotá at the Corferias fairgrounds. The event takes advantage of Econexia, Corferias’s digital business and networking platform.

Photo credit: Corferias.

The roundtable arises as a response to the convergence of interests and purposes between EPM and representatives of local governments, academia, and the banana, cocoa, banana, palm and agricultural sectors in general, interested in exploring the potential for green hydrogen production in the Urabá region of Antioquia, from the use and transformation of the residual biomass generated by Urabá’s agribusiness.

EPM hired the University of Antioquia for the studies. Photo credit: EPM.

To this end, EPM signed a contract with the University of Antioquia to lead the studies to establish the potential of biomass from the main agro-industrial activities in the Urabá subregion for the production of green hydrogen and/or its derivatives, including actions such as:

• The constitution of a relationship plan with different actors in the agro-industrial sector of the Urabá region is needed for the socialization of the initiative.
• Technical visits in the area are carried out to characterize the biomass, thus determining the potential and viability of these to produce green hydrogen and/or its derivatives.

In September 2021, Colombia launched the 30-year Hydrogen Roadmap, contemplating that its implementation will require a significant public and private investment effort for the development of infrastructure, transport, and end-uses of multi-emission hydrogen.

Subsequently, the EPM Group drew up its 2022-2050 Roadmap for the production of green hydrogen that includes energy transition, digital transformation and circular economy, always thinking about the development and well-being of communities and strengthening the development of skills and innovation based on clean and renewable energies, which can be scalable to projects that allow the use of hydrogen locally and internationally.

The hydrogen would be produced from residual biomass from agribusiness. Photo credit: EPM.

Thus, in February 2024, the pilot for the production of green hydrogen (H2V) began at the Aguas Claras WWTP (biofactory), located in the municipality of Bello, north of the Aburrá Valley. The pilot, which is being carried out by EPM and Aguas Nacionales, a subsidiary of the EPM Group, allows the production of 1,800 kilograms of hydrogen per year and is in the process of expanding hydrogen production to up to 3,600 kg/year. The energy is already used for some internal processes of Aguas Claras.

Connected to the region

Since 2017, the EPM Group has been implementing the Urabá Territorial Integration Model (MIT), a technical agreement that strengthens the role of the EPM Group as a convergent actor in the region, aimed at participating and strengthening the various scenarios of inter-institutional articulation to team up for the well-being of its inhabitants and enhance the capacities installed in the area.

EPM and Aguas Nacionales advance in green hydrogen pilot in Aguas Claras. Photo credit: EPM.

Among the 13 interaction factors of MIT are: Climate change, energies, alliances and networks, socioeconomic leverage of the territory and provision of solutions, which is why this project represents an advance in the implementation of MIT Urabá.

Likewise, the project is aligned with territorial initiatives such as the Climate and Peace Plan 2040, a document built by more than 300 participants and 105 public, private, and civil society organizations, and which has the leadership of Corpourabá and Cordupaz for its implementation in the territory.

This space to build a team around hydrogen is also aligned with the management of the Social Innovation Platforms Table of the University-Business-State-Society Committee (CUEES)  Urabá, led by EPM, and from which this type of initiative serves to add capacities, resources, and knowledge from academia, government, unions, and society, with the same purpose: the consolidation of a sustainable Urabá.

Photo credits: EPM.

This value also represented more than half, 52.7%, of everything that Colombia sold to the world in those six months.

“The behavior of what the country exported in the first six months of the year in products other than oil and coal, ratifies not only the behavior that non-mining exports have been registering for months, but also that step by step we are advancing in the transformation of the productive fabric and the diversification of the export basket. From the commerce, industry, and tourism sector, we continue to provide entrepreneurs in the regions with all the instruments and institutional offer to guarantee the sophistication and expansion of the offer,” said the Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism, Diana Marcela Morales Rojas.

In volume, shipments also continue to increase. Between January and June, there were 5.1 million tons, for a growth of 9.6% compared to the first half of 2024. Within the non-mining basket, the exports that had the greatest weight in the period of analysis were those of the agricultural sector, which accounted for 43.7% ($5.615.9 million USD) and grew 36%.

Products such as coffee stand out, whose exports in the 6 months grew 81.3%; flowers, 9.9%; bananas, 6.2%; Hass avocado, 27.6%; Tahiti lemon, 15.7%, and gulupa, 23.3%, among others. The second most representative group of products of exports of non-mining goods in the period was industry, which participated with 40.8% ($5.252 million USD) of this basket and a growth of 5%.

Exports of aluminum doors, windows, and their frames stood out, among others, with an increase of 9.5%; insecticides, 18.8%; electrical transformers, 12.9%; medicines, 9.3%; and beauty preparations, 3.7%. Products from the agribusiness sector, which accounted for 15.5% ($1.989.7 million USD) of the non-mining energy export basket, registered an increase in sales of 37%.

Products such as palm oil, whose exports grew 64.1%; coffee extracts and essences with an increase of 45.7%; sugar, 14.3%; cocoa and its derivatives, 87.3%, and bakery products, 8.7%, among others, boosted the sector’s performance.

90.4% of exports of non-mining energy products were made from nine Colombian regions: Antioquia, from where they grew 25.9%; Bogotá, which increased 16.5%; Cundinamarca, 16.5%; Valle del Cauca, 14.8%; Atlántico, 6.6%; Bolívar, 9%; Caldas, 47.3%; Magdalena, 45% and Huila.

The latter was the one that reported the highest increase, with 50%. Its non-mining foreign sales totaled $624.2 million USD in the first six months of the year, marked by coffee.

In June alone, the country exported $2.112.6 million USD in non-mining products, which represented an increase of 20.4%. In volume, 774,248 tons were shipped for an increase of 9.6%.

Avocados. Photo credit: JohnyVid from Pixabay.

“Although the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon is in a neutral phase and does not directly influence current weather conditions, the bulletin warns that there is still a high probability of rainfall above historical averages in several departments, with the potential for extreme events that could seriously impact agricultural production systems and rural infrastructure,” said Alfonso Triana.  A specialized professional of the UPRA.

Likewise, Cesar Cortés, UPRA expert, explained: “The UPRA analysis reveals that this risk would especially affect crops of banana, cocoa, coffee, fruit trees, vegetables, roots and tubers, with the possibility of anoxia in soils, spread of diseases and logistical difficulties for marketing, mainly in the Andean, Pacific, Caribbean regions and areas of the Orinoquia and Amazon.”

The departments with the highest concentration of vulnerable hectares are Antioquia, Cundinamarca, Cauca, Boyacá, Tolima, and Nariño, which reinforces the need to take measures with a differential and territorial approach.

The report also provides a detailed overview by region and municipality. “In the Andean region alone, around 340,000 ha were identified at low risk and about 1,500 ha at medium risk, distributed in 41 municipalities. In the Caribbean, more than 85,000 ha are at low risk and 624 ha at medium risk, while in the Pacific, low risk affects about 195,000 ha. In the Amazon and Orinoquía, although the area at risk is smaller, the vulnerability of rural infrastructure is a concern,” said Alexander Rodríguez Romero, UPRA’s technical director of efficient land use and land adaptation.

The bulletin includes an analysis by crop group that shows that, although the cultivated area at medium risk represents only 0.05% of the national total (2,440 ha of 4.7 million), the impact can be severe depending on the type of production:

• Fruit trees: 1,063 ha at risk (43.6% of the total at risk).
• Traditional tropical crops (cocoa, coffee, sugarcane): 891 ha.
• Oilseeds: 182 ha.
• Vegetables: 64 ha with a high proportion affected (0.09% of the total cultivated group).
• Cereals (maize and rice): 99 ha.
• Roots and tubers (potato, cassava, yams): 108 ha.
• Legumes and aromatics: 33 ha in total.

For her part, Dora Inés Rey Martínez, acting director of UPRA, concluded: “Faced with this panorama, UPRA reiterates the need for informed and preventive agroclimatic planning. Producers are recommended to adopt water management, drainage, pest monitoring, and planting staggering practices. Likewise, a call is made to the territorial authorities to strengthen agroclimatic technical assistance and support the most exposed territories with infrastructure and differential actions.”

Key figures:

• 0.7% of the agricultural frontier in Colombia, that is, about 300,000 hectares, is at specific risk, mainly low, due to excess rainfall in different regions of the country for the period between May and October.
• 2,440 hectares under cultivation are estimated at medium risk, especially fruit trees (43.6% of the total).
• Andean and Pacific regions, the most exposed by medium and low risk.

Walking in the rain. Photo credit: wal_172619 from Pixabay.

The value exported in the first four months of this year registered an increase of 23.5% compared to January-April of last year, when $6.851.5 million USD were exported. In volume, 3.3 million tons were shipped, which represented 9.8% more than a year ago.

The different entities attached to and linked to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism provide and make available to entrepreneurs instruments and programs to support them in the sophistication and diversification of the non-mining export basket, with goods of greater added value. Likewise, work is being done to expand the markets for these products.

According to the ministry’s analysis, within the non-mining basket between January and April, the sector that had the highest growth was agriculture, with 41.32% compared to a year ago. The amount exported reached $3.786.9 million USD.
Among the products that helped drive growth in the period are coffee, with an increase of 96.9%; gulupa, 39.3%; Hass avocado, 16.7%; flowers, 9.5%; Tahiti lemon, 8.6%; and bananas, 6.2%.

For its part, exports of industrial products totaled $3.399.3 million USD and grew 5.3% compared to the previous year. Exports included goods such as: perfumes and toilet waters, which grew 18.4%; insecticides, 16.1%; electrical transformers, 13.4%; beauty preparations, 7.8%; plastics and their manufactures, 7.1%, and doors, windows, and their frames, 3.2%.

In agribusiness, foreign sales reached $1.277.2 million USD for an increase of 35.6%. Among the products of this sector that contributed to the result of the non-mining basket with their exports are, among others: cocoa and its preparations with an increase of 114.5%; palm oil, 67.6%; beverages, including water and alcoholic beverages, 47.9%; coffee extracts and essences, 39.1%; bakery and pastry products, 14.5%, and sugar, 7.4%.

By region

The main 10 departments from which non-mining goods are shipped to the world, which, due to their participation in this basket, represented 93.2%, and within these, the one that registered the highest growth in these foreign sales in the period of analysis was Huila with a variation of 83.8%. This region accounts for 5.4% of these exports.

It was followed by Caldas, whose non-mining foreign sales increased 53.9%. This department has a share in this group of 5.4%.

The third-highest growth of this top 10 is in Magdalena with a variation of 48.6%, which represents 4.7% of the country’s non-mining energy basket.

It was followed by Antioquia with an increase of 26.4%. This, together with Bogotá (whose exports grew 17.8%), is the main origin of non-mining foreign sales. In the period of analysis, these regions accounted for 19.3% each.

Photo credit: MINCIT.

For the first time since comparable quarterly records began (since 2005), agriculture, livestock, hunting, forestry, and fishing reached third place among the 12 branches of economic activity in terms of participation in the value added of the economy, with a share of 11.4%.

“The sustained growth of the agricultural sector not only reflects its strategic importance for the country, but also shows how agriculture continues to be one of the most solid pillars of the Colombian economy; it promotes regional development and job creation,” said Dora Inés Rey, director of the Rural Agricultural Planning Unit (UPRA).

Outstanding growth in all its divisions

The agricultural sector achieved an outstanding performance in all its divisions. The value added of coffee grew by 31.3%, while fishing and aquaculture also showed a solid increase of 18.2%. Forestry and timber harvesting grew by 11.4 percent, and livestock increased by 8.9 percent. On the other hand, agricultural crops without coffee registered a growth of 2.4%.

The productions that stood out the most, in terms of growth, were cocoa (33.3%), coffee (32.9%), cattle (13.8%), raw milk (12.1%), and walnuts and palm fruits (11.7%). In addition, chicken and eggs also showed positive increases, with a growth of 9.1% and 8.3%, respectively.

With a growth higher than that recorded by GDP, the agricultural sector continues to demonstrate its relevance as a generator of employment and development. During the first quarter of the year, the agricultural sector has remained robust, contributing significantly to the growth of the economy and consolidating itself as an essential pillar for the stability of the country, said Rey.

Headline photo: Coffee from Colombia. Photo credit: Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism (MinCIT)

Regarding the year so far (January-March 2025), the country achieved exports for a total of $3.682 billion USD and 1,446,100 tons, the highest records for this period since comparable records began (1995). These results confirm not only growth in value, but also in volume, reflecting a positive trend that continues to consolidate.

Dora Inés Rey, acting director of the UPRA, explained that: “The increase in exports reflects the competitiveness and effort of our agricultural producers, who continue to position Colombia as a benchmark in the export of agro-industrial products. These results are excellent news for the country’s economy; employment and development are generated, and the great potential that our countryside has is evident.”

Main results:

• Value growth: In March 2025, exports reached $1.395 million USD, an increase of 51.3% compared to March 2024.
•  Significant increase in coffee: coffee represented a notable increase of $311.5 million USD (+131.3%). It is consolidated as one of the main engines of the country’s exports.
•  Other notable categories: flower exports increased by $52.4 million USD (+23.8%), and cocoa and cocoa preparations rose by $31 million USD (+144.2%).
•  Volume growth: in March 2025, the country exported 510,515 tons of agricultural and agro-industrial products; an increase of 13% compared to the same month in 2024, with a notable increase in exports of coffee (+42.2%) and avocado (+94.5%).
• The first three months stand out: between January and March 2025, exports grew by 37% in value, driven by coffee (+100.8%), cocoa (+127.3%), and flowers (+9%).
•  Sustained increase in volume: during the first quarter of 2025, exports in volume increased by 3.8%; The growth of sugar (+26.8%) and soybean oil (+373.2%) stands out.

This performance reflects the importance of the agricultural sector as one of the pillars of the Colombian economy, with a clear impact on job creation, improved competitiveness and integration into international markets.

The outlook for the coming months continues to be favorable, with a growing interest in Colombian products in international markets; which translates into an opportunity to continue strengthening the agricultural and agro-industrial sector as a key engine of economic development.

Above image: coffee beans drying in the traditional open-air method. Photo credit: UPRA.

According to analysis based on IDEAM data (Colombia’s Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies), in the coming months, rainfall in the Andean, Caribbean, and Orinoquia regions is likely to be between normal values and up to 40% above historical averages. This increase, although natural in the rainy season, translates into a latent risk of extreme events that could affect both agricultural production and rural infrastructure,” explained Eliecer Díaz Almanza, an expert from the UPRA.

Headline image: Cacao fruits, when processed correcty, render chocolate.

The impact is expected to be especially relevant on crops sensitive to excess water, such as bananas and plantains, cacao, avocado, vegetables, and potatoes. In addition, high humidity conditions could lead to the proliferation of pests and diseases, affecting animal and plant health.

The acting director of the UPRA, Dora Inés Rey, highlighted the importance of consulting the Agroclimatic Bulletin to plan and, thus, reduce the impact of agroclimatic risks: “Having this information has been fundamental for decision-making. It allows farmers, producers, and authorities, both regional and national, to anticipate, prioritize actions in crops, adapt infrastructures, and protect production systems that are at risk.”

Special attention to the ACFEC

The bulletin highlights that productive areas under Ethnic and Community Family Peasant Agriculture (ACFEC) schemes are especially vulnerable. It is estimated that, in departments such as Antioquia, Cundinamarca, Boyacá, Nariño, Cauca, and Valle del Cauca, agroclimatic conditions increase the risk for small producers and production systems located in alluvial soils or with a high water table.

In regions such as the Caribbean, Pacific, and Andean, a medium and low risk of excess moisture is projected in agricultural and livestock areas in specific areas. The potential impact also extends to ACFEC’s production systems, where significant effects are expected in key departments such as Antioquia, Cundinamarca and Valle del Cauca.

The situation is similar in the Orinoquia and the Amazon, although with relatively minor impacts. In these areas, the risk of damage to rural roads and productive infrastructure stands out. “We call on regional and local authorities to make use of this information to anticipate and foresee risks, strengthen agro-ecological practices, improve drainage systems, plan planting in a staggered manner, and reinforce rural infrastructures,” explained Alexander Rodríguez Romero, technical director of Efficient Land Use and Land Adaptation at UPRA.

Likewise, we invite local authorities to redouble agroclimatic technical assistance with a differential approach for these population groups, vital in food production and food security in the country.

“The planning of agricultural activities must be guided by the climate predictions of Ideam, the UPRA Agroclimatic Bulletin, and the recommendations of the National Agroclimatic Technical Table, key tools for timely decision-making that contribute to mitigating risks and guaranteeing the sustainability of the sector,” concluded César Cortés, UPRA expert.

Key figures from the April 2025 Agroclimatic Bulletin

• 2.3 million hectares within the national agricultural frontier are at risk of excess water.
• In ACFEC areas, more than 852 thousand hectares are identified with low risk and about 86 thousand hectares with medium risk, especially in the Andean and Pacific regions.
• Andean Region: medium risk at 97,000 ha and low at 181,000 ha, with possible impact on crops such as Musaceae, fruit trees, and vegetables.
• Caribbean region: low risk in more than 179,000 ha, with critical points in agricultural areas such as Chiriguaná (Cesar).
• Pacific Region: medium risk in 109,000 ha and low in 164,000 ha; affects productive systems and mountain areas vulnerable to landslides.
• Orinoquia and Amazon regions: lower risk, but with potential effects on rural infrastructure and roads.

Photo credit: UPRA.

Between January and February 2025, the sector’s exports reached a total of $2,287 million USD, representing an increase of 29.6% compared to the same period in 2024. This growth was driven by the increase in coffee exports, which rose $418.6 million USD (86%); cocoa, with an increase of $34.9 million USD (115.3%); and beef and offal, with an increase of $27.4 million USD (209.5%).

In terms of volume, Colombia exported 436,931 tons of agricultural and agro-industrial products in February 2025, which represented a decrease of 10% compared to February 2024. This drop is mainly explained by the reduction in exports of bananas (-27%), fats or oils (-72%), and flowers (-18.4%).

However, over the past 12 months (March 2024 to February 2025), exports in value increased by 17% from the same period a year earlier. In addition, in volume, exports grew by 4.8%, highlighting the performance of products such as coffee and cocoa.

Dora Inés Rey, acting director of the Rural Agricultural Planning Unit (UPRA), commented: “The constant growth of our agricultural exports reflects the work and quality of our producers. Products such as coffee, cocoa, and beef continue to stand out in international markets, consolidating Colombia as a global benchmark. From the UPRA, we continue to promote strategies that favor the sustainable and competitive growth of our exports.”

Coffee beans. Photo credit: Pexels from Pixabay.