A. M. 
The United States and El Salvador announced a Framework for a Reciprocal Trade Agreement, a roadmap that will modernize the trade relationship between the two countries and strengthen existing commitments under CAFTA-DR. The announcement, released by the White House, marks a strategic step toward deepening economic integration and improving El Salvador’s competitiveness in the US market.
According to the statement, the agreement seeks to eliminate non-tariff barriers, ensure more agile trade, and strengthen cooperation in key areas such as intellectual property, digital services, supply chains, economic security, and regulatory standards.
Commitments undertaken by El Salvador
The salvadoran government agreed to implement measures that will facilitate the entry of US goods and services, including:
• Regulatory Streamlining: Procedures for importing medicines, medical devices, remanufactured goods, and other products will be simplified. U.S. automotive standards will also be accepted, and requirements such as apostilles will be eliminated.
• Certification and Digital Trade: El Salvador will accept electronic certificates and support the global moratorium on tariffs for digital transmissions, in addition to committing to not applying discriminatory taxes to digital services.
• Agricultural Access: The acceptance of U.S. phytosanitary and zoo sanitary certificates will continue, ensuring that no new barriers are created for agricultural products.
• Intellectual Property: The country will move toward adopting international treaties and ensure transparency in the use of geographical indications, avoiding restrictions on common food terms.
• Labor and Environment: El Salvador will strengthen the protection of internationally recognized labor rights and prohibit the import of products made with forced labor. It will also strengthen environmental protection, with measures against illegal logging, unregulated fishing, and wildlife trafficking.
• Competition and subsidies: The government pledged to avoid practices by state-owned enterprises or subsidies that could distort trade.
Economic and strategic implications
As a result of these commitments, the United States announced it will eliminate tariffs on certain salvadoran exports, especially products that are not produced in sufficient quantities domestically. The benefit will also include some textile and apparel goods covered by CAFTA-DR.
Furthermore, the agreement could influence future economic security decisions under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, opening the door to closer cooperation on trade defense issues.
Toward a more modern trade relationship
In the coming weeks, both governments will work to finalize the text of the agreement and complete the necessary legal processes for its signing.
Within this framework, the United States and El Salvador seek to build a more balanced and transparent trade relationship aligned with global standards, with direct impacts on investment, exports, and the business climate.
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