Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa has unveiled a sequence of dramatic coverage strikes as he seeks to mission a powerful picture days forward of a federal election.
On Monday, in a post on the social media platform X, Noboa introduced he can be imposing a 27-percent tariff on imports from Mexico.
Then, in a second message two hours later, he revealed he would seal the nation’s borders for a three-day interval in response to unspecified threats from armed teams.
“In response to makes an attempt by armed teams to destabilise the nation, the borders will stay closed from Saturday, February 8, to Monday, February 10,” Noboa wrote.
He additionally introduced a push to “instantly militarise” Ecuador’s ports and reinforce the navy presence on the nation’s borders.
The bulletins come as Noboa, a conservative, faces a good re-election bid on Sunday towards his rival from the 2023 presidential race, Luisa Gonzalez of the left-wing Citizen Revolution Motion.
Critics additionally famous that Noboa seemed to be mirroring the insurance policies and phrasings of United States President Donald Trump, who gained re-election in 2024 on a hardline agenda of tariffs and border safety.
Ongoing feud with Mexico
Trump and Noboa share a standard goal for his or her tariff threats: Mexico.
In November, shortly after his election victory, Trump introduced he would impose 25-percent tariffs on Mexican merchandise imported into the US. The imposition of these tariffs have been quickly paused, as of Monday, for a interval of 30 days.
Trump justified the transfer by saying it was essential leverage to power Mexico to stem the movement of undocumented immigrants and medicines into the US. He additionally cited the necessity to defend US industries.
Noboa took an identical tack on Monday when he positioned a 27-percent import tax on items from Mexico.
Echoing Trump’s phrasing, Noboa mentioned that he remained dedicated to free commerce with Mexico however not when there was “abuse”.
“We affirm our place of signing a free commerce settlement with Mexico,” the Ecuadorian president wrote.
“However, till that occurs and turns into a actuality, we’ll apply a 27% tariff to the merchandise we import, with the target of selling our business and making certain truthful remedy for our producers.”
Ecuador and Mexico have shared tensions in recent times, culminating within the rupture of diplomatic ties final yr.
The break was the results of a raid, led by Ecuadorian police, on Mexico’s Embassy in Quito. As soon as inside, law enforcement officials arrested a former Ecuadorian president accused of corruption however granted asylum in Mexico.
Worldwide regulation forbids native police from taking law-enforcement actions in embassies with out permission. The raid was condemned by most governments within the area.
A detailed election
Individually, Noboa revealed on Monday that Ecuador had efficiently accomplished a free commerce settlement with Canada.
“After months of intense negotiations, our authorities has achieved what no different has: Ecuador can have a commerce settlement with Canada,” he wrote.
The Ecuadorian chief faces a good race on Sunday. Polling averages present Noboa within the lead with roughly 38 p.c of the vote, and Gonzalez in second place with 32 p.c.
Which means Noboa is probably going in need of the bulk he must keep away from a run-off with Gonzalez in April.
The inheritor to a banana business fortune, Noboa hopes to safe a full four-year time period after taking office as president in November 2023.
His present time period is simply 18 months lengthy: He gained a snap election to complete out the tenure of former President Guillermo Lasso, who dissolved his authorities below a constitutional mechanism referred to as the “muerte cruzada” or “crossed dying”.
Although he got here to energy as a law-and-order candidate, Noboa has struggled to deal with escalating violence from felony teams, regardless of a series of measures granting the navy and police extra expansive powers.
A harsh drought has additionally precipitated an vitality scarcity throughout his transient tenure, as Ecuador depends on hydroelectric energy.
Rolling blackouts have turn out to be a supply of frustration and protest towards his authorities.
