Archive · 28 Jan 2026
Colombia-Ecuador Trade War Escalates with Pipeline Fees
Colombia and Ecuador are in a trade war.
Ecuador raised the fees for using its oil pipelines from $3 to $30 per barrel, which affects Colombian oil companies like Ecopetrol.
This happened after Colombia stopped selling electricity to Ecuador.
Ecuador's president said the tariffs are because Colombia isn't doing enough to stop drug cartels.
Colombia says it is seizing record amounts of cocaine but production is still high.
Both countries have now put 30% tariffs on each other's imports.
Ecuador has a lot of crime, with a very high homicide rate, which is part of the reason for the dispute.
Ecuador increased pipeline fees for Colombian oil from USD 3 to USD 30 per barrel.
Colombia's Ecopetrol transports 12,000 barrels of oil daily through the affected pipeline.
The trade war started with Ecuador imposing a 30% tariff on Colombian imports, citing security concerns.
Colombia responded with its own 30% tariffs on Ecuadorian imports and cut electricity sales.
Ecuador's homicide rate reached 50 per 100,000 residents in 2025, the highest in recent history.
- Who
- Colombia and Ecuador
- What
- Trade war escalation with pipeline fee hike
- When
- Announced on Monday, escalated on Tuesday
- Where
- Colombia and Ecuador
- Why
- Dispute over drug trafficking and security measures
- Pipeline Fee Increase
- USD 3 to USD 30 per barrel
- Affected Company
- Ecopetrol (Colombia's state-run oil company)
- Daily Oil Transport
- 12,000 barrels per day
- Trade Between Countries (2023)
- USD 2.3 billion
- Colombian Exports to Ecuador (2023)
- USD 1.7 billion
- Ecuador's Homicide Rate (2025)
- 50 per 100,000 residents
- Ecuador's Homicide Rate Increase (2020-2025)
- 5 times higher