Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in Barranquilla, Colombia, on September 8, 2026, that Washington and Bogota have not yet reached a deal on tariffs, though two rounds of talks led by Ambassador Greer have made what he called good progress.
Tariff process reset by the courts
Rubio said the tariff system President Trump had put in place broke down after the Supreme Court struck it down, forcing the administration to start over. The rebuilt process runs through what he called "the 301 process," a US trade law tool that lets Washington investigate another country's trade practices and respond with duties. He said the rule applies to every country, not only Colombia. A reporter said Colombia has asked that the tariffs be lifted to help with reconstruction.
Rubio said the two sides are working toward "a positive result for the United States and for Colombia as well," and that Trump wants an agreement "as soon as possible." He said he had no announcement to make at the press conference but hoped for news soon.
Petro's sanctions status unchanged
A reporter asked about former President Gustavo Petro, who was placed on the US Treasury's OFAC sanctions list, and noted that Petro has called the designation a mistake and unfair. Rubio said OFAC decisions are based on "documents and evidence" gathered by the Treasury Department. He said he could not discuss any investigation into Petro and had no announcement on removing him from the list.
A regional security post in Medellin
Rubio said Colombian President de la Espriella has invited the United States to open a regional security operations center in Medellin, meant to serve the wider region rather than Colombia alone, under a plan called Shield of the Americas. He described the two countries' security relationship as more than 20 years old and the strongest in the hemisphere, though "interrupted for a time." He said Colombia's security capabilities are enormous but had gone underfunded for "three or four years" before the current government.
On a possible US military base in Colombia, Rubio said any base would need a Colombian invitation, a feasibility review, and a cost study from the Department of War before moving forward. On Colombia's annual anti-drug certification, he said this year's determination is based on last year's cooperation, with the next decision due next year, and that the current government's cooperation differs from the past.
Venezuela border and the ELN
Asked about the ELN, which the US designates a terrorist organization, and its activity on the Colombia-Venezuela border, Rubio said it is "not sustainable" for armed groups to operate across the border with impunity. He said the issue would keep being discussed with Venezuela's interim authorities and, eventually, a future democratic government there, and that a solution "must be found, and it must be quickly."
Odebrecht case
A reporter asked whether the US would disclose the identity of "Officer Number Three," a figure named in US court documents from the Odebrecht corruption case, at the request of President de la Espriella. Rubio said he was not familiar with that specific case and would look into it.
