A Colombia tariff deal could be signed in December, but nothing is final, and Valentine’s pre-book decisions cannot wait for it. Colombia’s trade minister said on Oct. 22 that talks with Washington are progressing, giving flower buyers a possible path to relief on the 12.5% additional tariff that took effect in July.
What did Colombia’s trade minister say?
Trade Minister Mauricio Gomez Amin said he was in Washington last week and that the sides are “making good progress.” He added, “We are optimistic that we might be able to reach a final agreement in the coming weeks and sign it in December,” while saying he could not guarantee it, according to ColombiaOne. The report says the government of De la Espriella, who won the June election, has pursued the deal for more than two months, and that no agreement has been finalized.
What tariffs apply to Colombian flowers today?
The U.S. announced a 10% baseline tariff in April 2025, and in July 2026 it added a 12.5% tariff tied to a forced-labor investigation, effective July 24, with exemptions for certain product categories. ColombiaOne names flowers among the key export sectors at stake. Colombia’s 2024 exports to the U.S. totaled $14.336 billion, or 28.9% of its exports, per the Ministry of Trade. Flower exporters association Asocolflores has said Colombia supplies about 70% of U.S. flower imports, so any change affects most mass-market programs. Our earlier report explains why buyers shouldn’t count on relief yet.
What this means for you
A December signing would land after most Valentine’s and Mother’s Day pre-books are set, and the shipping window for Valentine’s Day runs from mid-January. Practical steps for category managers:
- Ask importers to quote Valentine’s volumes at the current tariff rate, with a written clause for who benefits if the duty is removed or reduced before entry.
- Do not cut your retail price plans on the expectation of a deal; deals can be delayed or narrower than announced.
- Keep a second origin in the plan. Ecuador pays a lower rate according to Asocolflores, though it is a rose-heavy supplier. Details are in our Colombia sourcing guide.
- Watch the effective date. Tariffs generally apply on entry, so a change timed after your shipments clear will not help that program.
Takeaways: Colombia tariff deal timing for buyers
Plan Valentine’s at today’s rates, add contract language that captures any December relief, and treat a signed deal as upside rather than a base case.
The SuperFloral Team brings you news, trends and practical ideas for supermarket and mass-market floral professionals. Our editors gather and curate the stories that matter most to floral teams in grocery and retail, from industry news and events to merchandising inspiration and business advice. Have a story idea or news tip? Write to us at editorial@superfloral.com.
