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The Corporación de Exportadores de El Salvador (COEXPORT) reported on the final determination issued by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) under Section 301, which establishes new trade measures to prevent the importation of products made with forced labor. The decision maintains important exceptions for El Salvador and defines which products will continue to enter the U.S. market without paying the 10% tariff.
According to the trade association, the measures will take effect on july 24, 2026, the date on which the new tariff scheme announced by U.S. authorities will begin to be applied.
COEXPORT explained that, for El Salvador, the decision represents an advantage for several export sectors, since textiles and apparel products that qualify under the Central America-Dominican Republic-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) will continue to have a 0% tariff. This list also includes some agricultural products, certain parts and equipment for the aerospace industry, and some industrial inputs.
The organization also noted that goods already subject to other tariffs under Section 232 of U.S. trade law are excluded from the new tariff.
In contrast, all other salvadoran products will continue to pay a 10% tariff to enter the U.S. market. However, COEXPORT highlighted that this rate remains below the 12.5% tariff that will be applied to products from other countries, allowing El Salvador to maintain a more favorable position compared to other competitors.
The trade association indicated that these exceptions are significant for the salvadoran economy due to the importance of textile and apparel exports to the United States, one of the country’s main trading partners.
Recommendations for exporters
With the new regulations now in effect, COEXPORT recommends that exporting companies carefully review the tariff classification of their products in the Harmonized Tariff System of the United States (HTSUS) to verify if they qualify for any exclusions.
They also suggested confirming that goods correctly use the code corresponding to Chapter 99 of the HTSUS, applicable to El Salvador when appropriate, and maintaining documentation that supports the origin of the products and compliance with labor regulations.
As part of these preventative measures, the association advised exporters to maintain constant communication with their clients and importers in the United States to understand the potential impact of the new trade regulations and to monitor future USTR publications regarding possible updates to the tariff schedule.
COEXPORT noted that these actions will allow companies to take advantage of existing exceptions, reduce risks in their export operations, and maintain competitive access for Salvadoran products to the U.S. market.
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