The agreement formalises a negotiation process that began in May 2025 and concluded on 13 February 2026, establishing a roadmap towards more balanced, competitive and predictable bilateral trade, according to Ecuador’s Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade and Investment.
One of the main effects of the RTA will be the elimination of surcharges currently affecting 53% of Ecuador’s non-oil exports to the United States, equivalent to US$2.786 billion in trade, according to 2025 data.
The agri-export sector is among the main beneficiaries, with products that will be able to enter the US market under more competitive conditions. These include bananas, plantains, pineapples, mangoes, pitahaya (dragon fruit), ginger and golden berries (uvilla).
The agreement was signed by Ambassador Jamieson Greer from the Office of the United States Trade Representative, together with Ecuador’s Minister of Production, Foreign Trade and Investment, Luis Alberto Jaramillo, marking the conclusion of the negotiation process.
Cocoa and coffee, both in raw and processed forms, will also benefit, along with the floriculture sector, palm hearts and various fishery products. These sectors represent a key part of Ecuador’s productive fabric and generate employment for millions of families across different regions of the country.
The agreement also includes strategic minerals such as gold and copper, as well as processed agro-industrial products, industrial manufactures and the forestry and timber sector.
In addition, the RTA предусматри the removal of surcharges for a further 1,673 tariff subheadings, opening the door to greater diversification of Ecuador’s export offering to one of the world’s largest markets.
Productive modernisation and trade facilitation
Regarding imports from the United States, Ecuador has agreed on a tariff reduction structure aimed at strengthening productive modernisation. Agricultural machinery, industrial equipment and construction machinery will be able to enter duty-free from the entry into force of the agreement or within reduced timeframes.
The agreement also provides tariff reductions for parts, components and industrial inputs, helping to lower operating costs and improve the competitiveness of Ecuadorian companies.
A strategic platform for investment and trade
The agreement also establishes commitments in key strategic areas, including investment, financing, digital trade, intellectual property, and labour and environmental standards.
In terms of financing, the RTA opens access to resources from institutions such as the Export–Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank) and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), with the aim of promoting investments in sectors such as energy, critical minerals, infrastructure and technology.
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The agreement also incorporates trade facilitation measures and customs modernisation to reduce timeframes and logistics costs, alongside environmental and sanitary standards aligned with international best practices.
With the signing of the Reciprocal Trade Agreement, Ecuador aims to consolidate its economic relationship with the United States within a framework of strategic cooperation, expand opportunities for its exporters and strengthen its positioning as a competitive trade partner in the global market.
