BOGOTA — The Colombian government on Saturday rejected Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa’s decision to eliminate tariffs on Colombian imports due to a tariff commitment made to an opposition candidate, calling it “deliberate interference” in the ongoing electoral process.

Noboa said Friday, after talks with Colombian presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, that he was committed to jointly fighting narcoterrorism and would eliminate the security tax on June 1.

Colombia’s Foreign Ministry responded Saturday by saying the repeal of Ecuador’s tariffs on bilateral trade stemmed from a resolution issued by the Andean Community of Nations and dismissed its presentation as “a gesture of goodwill on the part of the Ecuadorian leader.”

The ministry also called Noboa’s remarks “deliberate interference in the electoral process” and “intrusion by a foreign leader” which constitutes a “blatant violation of the principle of non-intervention in internal affairs.”

Colombians will go to the polls on Sunday to elect the successor to President Gustavo Petro.

De la Espriella, who represents the political movement Defenders of the Fatherland, is among the favorites in the polls.

Noboa did not specify whether he would maintain his decision if the ruling party candidate, Iván Cepeda, wins.

The trade war between Ecuador and Colombia began in January when Ecuador’s president imposed a so-called security tax on Colombian imports, alleging a lack of control on this side of the border and complaining of a trade deficit of at least $1 billion.

The rate started at 30%, gradually increased to 50%, then reached 100%. Just a few days before the recent announcement, Noboa announced that this rate would be reduced to 75% from June 1.

The Petro administration, which has denied any alleged neglect of the shared border, responded with reciprocal measures: it imposed tariffs of up to 75% on Ecuadorian products and banned energy sales to Ecuador.

Continuing tensions led to the summoning of the ambassadors of the two countries.

The Andean Community of Nations said earlier this month that reciprocal tariffs should be eliminated because they hamper free trade and gave both countries a deadline to do so. The group is currently reviewing appeals opposing the resolution.