Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa announced 30 percent tariffs on imports from Colombia on 21 January 2026. He accused the neighboring country of not assisting in the fight against drug cartels. The tariffs will take effect on 1 February 2026.Noboa, attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, shared the decision on X. He highlighted Ecuador's efforts to cooperate despite a trade deficit exceeding $1 billion annually. The leader stated that Ecuador's military continues to confront criminal groups linked to drug trafficking on the border without any support from Colombia.

The move mirrors former US President Donald Trump's tariff increases on countries like Canada, China, and threats to Mexico over fentanyl trafficking concerns.

Escalating Violence and Border Challenges

Ecuador has transformed from one of South America's safest nations to a key cocaine trafficking hub in recent years. Gangs with connections to Mexican and Colombian cartels have fueled a surge in violence. The country ended 2025 with a homicide rate of 52 per 100,000 residents, equating to one murder every hour, according to the Geneva-based Organized Crime Observatory.

The 600-kilometer border with Colombia, spanning from the Pacific Ocean to the Amazon jungle, remains porous with numerous illegal crossings used for smuggling. Noboa previously proposed allowing foreign military bases, including from the United States, but voters rejected this in a November 2025 referendum. Following the vote, the US announced a temporary deployment of Air Force personnel to Ecuador to combat narcotics smuggling.

Ecuador's Interior Minister John Reimberg told reporters in Quito that Colombian authorities "are not taking the right measures to prevent the cultivation, processing, and shipment" of drugs across the border, according to AFP.

Colombian Officials Respond

Colombia's President Gustavo Petro posted on X on 21 January 2026, stating that more than 200 tons of cocaine have been seized on the border with Ecuador. He promised a fuller response to the tariffs.

Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez emphasized on X that Bogota and Quito maintain "close and historic cooperation against drug trafficking," per AFP reports.