Agreement promises immediate tariff relief for half of Ecuador’s exports while deepening cooperation on trade rules and security.

After months of negotiations, Ecuador and the United States have finalized a Reciprocal Trade Agreement that will reshape bilateral commerce and remove a long-standing tariff burden on a significant share of Ecuadorian exports. The deal, concluded after nine months of technical work and eight formal negotiating rounds, is expected to be signed in the coming weeks and enter into force shortly thereafter.

Officials on both sides described the agreement as a new framework for economic cooperation that goes beyond previous preference schemes. Once implemented, approximately 50% of Ecuadorian exports to the U.S. market will gain immediate preferential access, eliminating the 15% surcharge imposed during the Donald Trump administration on a range of products.

Immediate tariff relief and market access

Ecuador’s Minister of Production, Foreign Trade and Investment said the agreement guarantees zero-surcharge access for half of the country’s exports as soon as it takes effect. The measure builds on steps taken in November, when the surcharge was lifted on 105 products — including bananas and cocoa — which together account for roughly 35% of Ecuador’s export value to the United States.

Products that have continued to face the 15% tariff include shrimp, processed tuna, roses and other flowers, frozen broccoli, flat ceramic, furniture and wood products. Many of these goods are expected to benefit from the new agreement, significantly improving competitiveness for Ecuadorian producers and exporters.

Shrimp, Ecuador’s leading non-oil export to the United States, has been a focal point of industry concern. Exporters argue that tariff relief is critical for maintaining market share and sustaining employment in coastal provinces heavily dependent on aquaculture.

Rules, standards and economic security

Beyond tariffs, the agreement establishes common rules in key areas of the trade relationship. These include non-tariff barriers, rules of origin, customs facilitation and control, electronic commerce and technology, technical barriers to trade, intellectual property and broader economic security provisions.

The framework also creates institutional mechanisms for permanent dialogue between the two governments, aimed at deepening trade ties and encouraging reciprocal investment. Officials say these forums will provide greater predictability for businesses on both sides and a structured channel to resolve disputes or address emerging barriers.

Cooperation clauses addressing illegal fishing and illicit mining are also embedded in the agreement, reflecting shared concerns over environmental damage, unfair competition and organized crime linked to these activities.

A first in bilateral trade relations

Ecuadorian authorities emphasized that this is the first negotiated bilateral market-access agreement in the history of trade relations between the two countries. Unlike unilateral or regional preference programs such as the Andean Trade Preference Act of 1991 or the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act of 2002, the new pact is based on reciprocal commitments and legally defined obligations.

Negotiations on the surcharge had already gained momentum in November 2024, when both governments reached a preliminary understanding. Under that framework, Ecuador agreed to reduce tariffs on selected U.S. products, including vehicles and certain agricultural goods, in exchange for the phased elimination of the 15% surcharge on Ecuadorian exports.

Security cooperation alongside trade

The agreement’s scope extends beyond economics. Shortly after the conclusion of talks was announced on February 13th, 2026, Ecuador’s president underscored that security cooperation forms a parallel pillar of the new understanding with Washington.

Ecuador has intensified operations against illegal mining in early 2026, carrying out raids on clandestine camps and destroying machinery in several provinces. Authorities say closer coordination with the United States will support efforts to combat drug trafficking networks and the illicit extraction of minerals, both of which have been identified as threats to national security and economic stability.

As the signing date approaches, the government is expected to release further details clarifying the agreement’s implementation timeline and the specific products that will receive immediate tariff relief, while exporters and investors on both sides prepare for a shift in one of the hemisphere’s most important trade relationships.