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Colombian and Ecuadorian merchants and truckers protest escalating trade war between both nations

On Tuesday, Colombian and Ecuadorian truckers and merchants staged a protest at a border crossing, demanding governments remove trade measures and open dialogue, Carlos Bastidas said tariffs `generate crises`.
Last month, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa announced 30% tariffs on Colombian goods as a `security tax` until Colombia takes `firm actions` against cartels; Colombia responded with matching tariffs and said it would stop electricity sales, with reciprocal tariffs taking effect on Feb. 1.
Trade data show deep commercial links: about $2.3 billion last year, with Colombia sending about $1.7 billion to Ecuador; Ipiales, Colombia relies on Ecuador trade for 38% of its economy, Edison Mena said.
Protesters warned of immediate harm to border provinces and energy companies on both sides of the border as Colombia's decision to stop selling electricity risks Ecuador's hydroelectric power amid recent outages.
Security and cartel dynamics underscore the broader context as Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa framed tariffs as a `security tax` amid a 2025 homicide rate of 50 per 100,000 and rising drug cartels.

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