Colombia has begun negotiations with the United States to allow key Colombian fruits to enter the U.S. market without tariffs, according to the Ministry of Trade. The talks follow an executive order issued by the U.S. government that introduces new preferential access opportunities for Colombian goods.
Colombian exports of bananas, plantains, avocados, Tahiti limes, and other fruits are currently subject to a 10 per cent tariff, a measure imposed last month. The Colombian government is seeking to secure 0 per cent tariffs on these products to improve their competitiveness in the U.S. market compared with produce from other origins.
According to official figures, the fruits identified in Annex III of the U.S. executive order represent US$4.53 billion in Colombian exports. This accounts for 24.6 per cent of Colombia's total exports to the United States and 65.2 per cent of non-mineral energy external sales.
The Ministry of Trade highlighted that the removal of tariffs on these fruits would represent a substantial opportunity for Colombian growers. The ministry added that Annex II of the U.S. document maintains protections for other Colombian export categories, valued at US$9.80 billion, equivalent to 53.2 per cent of total sales to the U.S.
The Colombian government stated that the measure "opens new doors for Colombian producers, entrepreneurs, and workers in the international market."
Colombian exports in July 2025 totaled US$4.42 billion, down 4.1 per cent from July 2024. Data from the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE) shows that agricultural products, food, and beverages made up 28.2 per cent of the total, while the United States remained the leading destination with a 31.7 per cent share.
The Ministry of Trade underlined that if the negotiations with the U.S. are successful, the tariff exemptions would benefit the regions most engaged in fruit production and strengthen local employment and foreign currency inflows.
Source: Colombia 1