U.S. tariffs are posing a serious threat to one of Colombia’s biggest export industries just as demand for Valentine’s Day flowers surges. Colombia, the world’s second-largest flower exporter after the Netherlands, has shipped tens of thousands of tons of roses and other blooms to the United States in the lead-up to Feb. 14, a season that typically accounts for about 20 % of the country’s annual flower sales.

But a 10 % U.S. tariff imposed last year as part of broader trade measures has raised costs for Colombian growers and is squeezing profit margins, especially since around 80 % of Colombia’s flower exports go to the U.S. market.

Combined with a stronger Colombian peso and higher local wages, the tariff threatens to blunt the industry’s competitiveness and could lead to layoffs or farm closures if conditions don’t improve.

Despite the challenges, massive shipments continue — Miami International Airport alone is processing hundreds of millions of flower stems headed to U.S. florists and retailers — but consumers are already seeing higher prices due to the tariffs and increased costs.