In today's international trade, having a Free Trade Agreement is no longer an impenetrable shield. While weight revaluation breaks the $3,200 barrier and domestic costs stifle the operating margins, a new regulatory threat was about to hit Colombian exports: the imposition of an additional 12.5 per cent tariff by the United States. However, in the middle of this perfect storm, the coffee sector managed to dodge the impact.
The dynamics of foreign trade are undergoing profound structural changes. As part of this policy transition, the temporary measure under Section 122 expired on 24 July. Instead, as of 24 July 2026, the final action of the investigations carried out under Section 301 by the Office of the United States Commercial Representative (USTR) entered into force officially. It is essential to understand the nature of such policies. Beyond the technical and policy justification focused on the monitoring of supply chains, the implementation of Section 301 shows a new reading of the world economic order. In practice, this mechanism has been consolidated as a political and commercial tool used by the United States to justify, prolong and impose new tariff barriers unilaterally. This explains why, despite having an existing Free Trade Agreement, our country and other economies continue to face reciprocal tariffs and unexpected restrictions
USTR found that 54 economies, including Colombia explicitly, have failed to impose and effectively enforce a ban on the import of goods produced with forced labour, imposing a general tariff of 12.5% on domestic exports to that market. On the other hand, a group of 6 economies that do have a prohibitive standard in place, but failed to implement it effectively received a differentiated rate of 10 per cent.
Despite the imposition of this general tax, for now the coffee sector has some tranquility for the development of its commercial operations. In the final resolution of the USTR, coffee as a product was universally exempt from the additional tariff of 12.5%.
It is key to note that, thanks to the joint and articulated work with the National Coffee Association (NCA) in the presentation of observations during the public consultation phase, the USTR recently decided to incorporate the instantaneous soluble coffee not flavoured into the final list of excluded products. This exemption covers the exportable supply of the sector in its various presentations, along with other agricultural goods such as bananas, avocado, pineapple, mango and cocoa.
Aranesthetic subheadings (HTSUS)
The tariff exemption fully covers the following United States Harmonized Tariff (HTSUS) codes:
• 0901.11.00: Coffee, not roasted, not decaffeinated
• 0901.12.00: Coffee, not roasted, decaffeinated
• 0901.21.00: Coffee, roasted, not decaffeinated
• 0901.22.00: Coffee, toasted, decaffeinated
• 0901.90.10: Coffee casings and casings
• 0901.90.20: Coffee substitutes containing coffee
• 2101.11.21: Instantaneous coffee, not flavoured
• 2101.11.29: Extracts, essences and concentrates of coffee other than instantaneous coffee not flavoured
• 2101.12.90: Preparations based on extracts, essences or concentrates or on coffee
Having guaranteed the entry of coffee with a 0% tariff represents an essential operational shield in the current financial situation. Currently, export agencies are under strong pressure to strengthen the Colombian weight against the dollar, whose exchange rate has broken the floor of the 3,200 pesos, drastically reducing local currency revenues.
This fall in export earnings contrasts with the increase in the internal cost structure, where they have higher taxes, high interest rates and an increase in the minimum wage of more than 20 per cent. If this reduction in financial margins had been added to a tariff overcost of 12.5%, the viability of many offices would have been seriously compromised. To avoid this tax burden makes it possible to preserve the agency's working capital and to maintain the fluidity of export trade.
The international trade environment has changed: the existence of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) no longer exempts countries from facing unilateral measures, reciprocal tariffs and complex technical research.
In view of this reality, regulatory anticipation, technical voice work and articulation with strategic allies abroad are fundamental to the future of the difficulty. The inclusion of instantaneous coffee not flavoured in the exemptions was the result of joint pressures by several members of the sector.
The in-depth analysis of these tariff measures, the adaptation to the new regulatory frameworks of the United States and the financial strategies to mitigate the current exchange rate risk will be central to discussion in our90 Coffee Summit. From Asoexport, we extend a cordial invitation to all members and actors of the export chain to participate in this great meeting, which will take place on 5 and 6 November 2026 in Cartagena, Colombia. This area of institutional dialogue will be essential to further develop joint actions to protect the competitiveness of the sector and to reaffirm the importance of Asoexport for Colombia and for the future of the difficulties in an increasingly challenging global market.
