Ecuador hikes tariffs to 100% on Colombia; Petro recalls envoy
This represents a new escalation of the diplomatic and trade crisis between the two countries, according to an Ecuadorian statement and remarks from both leaders.
Ecuador said it will implement the tariff increase May 1, according to the Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade and Investment. It argued that Colombia has not taken concrete steps to curb drug trafficking and organized crime along the shared border.
"It is not possible to reach agreements with someone who does not have the same commitment to fighting narco-terrorism," Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa said Thursday night.
Petro described the tariff increase as "a monstrosity" and announced immediate measures.
"Our ambassador to Ecuador must return immediately," he wrote on X, where he also called for a Cabinet meeting at the border between the two countries.
The Colombian president also defended his anti-drug policy.
"The president of Ecuador insults the Colombian government that has seized more cocaine than in the entire history of the world," he said.
Ecuador's decision marks a new critical point in a dispute that has intensified in recent months and is affecting bilateral trade, energy cooperation and diplomatic channels, according to local media reports.
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Negotiations between the two countries
U.S. firm to invest $230 million-plus in Argentine nuclear fuel plant
The initiative, unveiled this week, focuses on the so-called New Uranium Plant, or NPU, situated in Formosa province in northern Argentina. Construction of the facility has been stalled since 2014. The project dates to the final years of former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner's administration.
Contacts between Dioxitek and Nano Nuclear Energy began in August with the signing of a memorandum of understanding. That agreement allowed both sides to assess Argentina's nuclear sector and the capabilities of the state-owned company.
Discussions gained momentum during Argentina Week, an investment forum held in March in New York, where Argentine officials promoted opportunities in strategic sectors. There, the company finalized a formal proposal that is being reviewed by the Economy Ministry.
The plan would allow the U.S. firm to participate as a production partner, while Argentina would retain ownership. The arrangement would mark a shift in Argentina's nuclear policy, which has historically been fully controlled by the public sector.
The investment is structured in two phases. The first aims to complete construction and bring the plant online to produce uranium dioxide, a key input for nuclear power generation. The second phase would add a facility to convert that material into uranium hexafluoride, which is required for further processing.
If approved, the project could become the first nuclear initiative under Argentina's Large Investment Incentive Regime, known as RIGI, a framework that offers tax and foreign exchange benefits to attract major investments.
Isidro Baschar, former director and training manager at Nucleoeléctrica Argentina, said the RIGI is a tool promoted by President Javier Milei's administration to draw investment into sectors where the country holds competitive advantages.
"So far, initiatives have focused mainly on oil, gas and mining, so its application to the nuclear sector is a new development," Baschar told UPI.
He said the Dioxitek effort is part of a broader strategy to bring private financing into unfinished projects, such as the Formosa plant. The investment aims to secure domestic uranium dioxide supply and, in a second stage, develop export capabilities linked to the nuclear fuel cycle.
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Mexico's Sheinbaum defends energy shift to cut reliance on U.S. gas
"Mexico must guarantee its sovereignty. And a fundamental part of sovereignty is energy sovereignty," Sheinbaum said Thursday during a press conference.
The president said her administration is exploring new domestic production pathways, including using fracking, a technique she previously opposed due to environmental concerns.
Sheinbaum described the move as a "responsible decision" to be carried out under "strict scientific oversight" with the support of a specialized committee.
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The proposal centers on creating a technical and scientific panel of experts from the National Autonomous University of Mexico and the National Polytechnic Institute.
The group will have two months to develop a protocol for extracting unconventional reserves, while minimizing environmental impact and prioritizing using treated or non-potable water.
The initiative marks a departure from the policy of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who maintained a strict ban on fracking on environmental grounds.
Mexico currently imports about 75% of the natural gas it consumes, mostly from Texas, exposing the country to price volatility and geopolitical risks that could affect the National Electric System.
"We cannot achieve energy sovereignty if we depend on a valve that can be shut outside our borders," Sheinbaum said.
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Government projections estimate gas demand could rise by about 30%
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