After two U.S. military planes carrying detained migrants from Colombia were refused landing rights by the Colombian President, Donald Trump, the U.S. President, declared a 25 percent emergency tariff on all goods imported from Colombia. The announcement was made on Sunday, marking a significant change in the U.S.-Colombian trade relations.

Trump’s decision to impose these extensive tariffs could face its first legal examination. While it is likely that the U.S. President has the power to impose such tariffs under emergency circumstances, he did not provide a legal justification for his decision.

Trump announced the punitive tariffs via social media, indicating that they could escalate to 50 percent within a week. This move sparks another disagreement with a foreign leader, this time over his tariff and immigration policies.

The denied landing of U.S. military planes in Colombia occurred early Sunday. Colombian President Gustavo Petro refused to accept the U.S.-bound flights carrying deported migrants. The two C-17 aircraft left the U.S. assuming they had permission to land in Colombia but had to divert back to the U.S. when the permission was denied.

Petro expressed his decision via social media posts, emphasizing that a migrant should not be considered a criminal and should be accorded the dignity that all humans deserve. This is the reason he gave for the denied landing of the U.S. military planes carrying Colombian migrants.

The refusal of the two flights comes at a time when the U.S. is increasing its military presence at the southern border and planning to deport over 5,000 detained migrants to their home countries. This step is part of Trump’s widespread immigration and border control measures, which have led to the deployment of 1,500 soldiers and Marines to the Mexico border, with the possibility of more to follow.

While two flights arrived in Guatemala last week without any issues, a flight scheduled for Mexico faced a similar denial of landing permits.

The newly imposed tariffs signal a significant shift in the U.S.-Colombia trade relationship. The two countries have a free trade agreement that eliminates tariffs on most goods. As of 2022, the U.S. was the destination for more than a quarter of Colombia’s exports, as per World Bank data.

Trump’s decision could prompt legal disputes under the trade agreement. However, the agreement does offer both governments some flexibility to take necessary action for the protection of “essential security.”