BOGOTA, Colombia — The presidents of Colombia and Venezuela met on their border Thursday to signal an settlement designed to enhance commerce between the 2 international locations and elevate import duties on dozens of manufactured items.

The deal comes as relations between the 2 international locations enhance following the election of Colombia’s first leftist president. Not too long ago Colombia and Venezuela opened their border bridges to business cargo vehicles for the primary time in seven years.

“This isn’t solely about making commerce simpler, but additionally about making it simpler for folks to maneuver between each international locations,” Colombian President Gustavo Petro stated. “There must be legality right here, in order that the rights of individuals are protected.”

Commerce between Colombia and Venezuela fell drastically after 2015 amid political disputes that led to frequent border closures.

In 2019, Venezuela’s socialist president, Nicolas Maduro, shut the border for months, had delivery containers placed on bridges connecting the international locations and reduce off diplomatic ties.

Maduro acted after Colombia’s then conservative authorities and america acknowledged Venezuelan opposition politician Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s respectable chief and tried to assist him to carry truckloads of humanitarian assist into the cash-strapped nation.

Final yr, Colombia and Venezuela renewed diplomatic relations following the election of Petro as Colombia’s president.

Petro has acknowledged Maduro as Venezuela’s respectable chief and moved away from U.S. led efforts to isolate Venezuela’s authoritarian authorities.

Colombia’s new president has stated that he wish to persuade Venezuela to rejoin the interamerican system of human rights, and has additionally requested Venezuela to help Colombia’s efforts to dealer a peace cope with the Nationwide Liberation Military, a insurgent group that’s current on either side of the border.