Noboa tells Colombian candidate Abelardo de la Espriella that he will lift tariffs on June 1st

Bogotá.- Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa announced this Friday, in a conversation with the far-right Colombian presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, that he will lift the tariffs imposed on Colombian products on June 1, at the beginning of the year, alleging security problems on the border. "From June 1st, the security fee will be lifted and there will be zero percent security fee," said Noboa in the conversation with De la Espriella, which the candidate released on his social media two days before next Sunday's presidential elections. The president explained on X that he made the decision after talking with De la Espriella, who asked him to lift the tariffs, and "confirm his willingness to promote a real and joint fight against narcoterrorism" and that they also agreed on the extradition of Ecuadorian criminals who are in Colombian territory. "We have reached an agreement with Abelardo de la Espriella to strengthen cooperation in trade, energy and security, for the benefit of both countries," Noboa expressed. We recommend reading:Noboa receives an award from Hispanic congressmen from the U.S. for his "leadership"

The trade tension between Ecuador and Colombia

For his part, De la Espriella assured that, if elected president this Sunday or next June 21st if he goes to a second round, he will visit Noboa on the border to strengthen the bilateral relationship and strengthen cooperation between both countries. The far-right candidate appears in second position in the voting intention polls, behind the leftist Iván Cepeda, from the officialist Historic Pact party, and ahead of the Uribista Paloma Valencia. The decision is known amidst the trade dispute that both countries have been engaged in since the beginning of this year, when the Noboa government imposed a "security tax" on Colombian products, considering the actions of President Gustavo Petro against drug trafficking and other criminal activities on the common border insufficient. The measure, harshly criticized by business owners and merchants, began in February with a 30% tax, was later raised to 50% and reached 100% since May 1st.