On November 13, 2025, the United States announced new reciprocal trade frameworks with Argentina, Guatemala, Ecuador, and El Salvador. Each joint statement outlines updated tariff commitments, reduced non-tariff barriers, and closer cooperation on intellectual property, labor protections, environmental enforcement, and digital trade. While the frameworks differ by country, together they signal a coordinated effort to establish more transparent, rules-based conditions for trade and investment between the United States and key Latin American partners.
HOW DO THE FOUR FRAMEWORKS ALIGN ACROSS KEY POLICY AREAS?
To put the four reciprocal trade frameworks in context, the table below outlines how each agreement addresses tariffs, regulatory measures, and related commitments across shared policy areas, based solely on the four joint statements.
HOW DOES THE U.S.-ARGENTINA FRAMEWORK CHANGE MARKET ACCESS AND ECONOMIC SECURITY COOPERATION?
The framework with Argentina couples expanded market access for U.S. industrial and agricultural products with a broader reset of regulatory and economic security cooperation. Argentina has committed to preferential access for a wide range of U.S. goods and to dismantling several non-tariff barriers, including import licensing, the statistical tax on U.S. products, and consular formalities. It will also recognize U.S. and international standards for vehicles, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals, and accept U.S. Food and Drug Administration certificates. In return, the United States will remove reciprocal tariffs on certain natural resources and pharmaceutical inputs that are not available in sufficient quantities domestically and may consider the agreement when evaluating future actions under Section 232. The framework also underscores shared priorities on intellectual property enforcement, labor rights, environmental protection, export controls, investment security, and critical minerals cooperation.
HOW DOES THE U.S.-GUATEMALA FRAMEWORK BUILD ON CAFTA DR TO ADDRESS REGULATORY BARRIERS?
Guatemala’s framework builds directly on CAFTA-DR and focuses on approvals, documentation, and regulatory clarity. The joint statement highlights Guatemala’s commitments to streamline product approvals for pharmaceuticals and medical devices, accept U.S. automotive standards, and modernize certificate and registration procedures by recognizing electronic certificates and removing apostille requirements. In agriculture, Guatemala has reaffirmed that it will maintain science and risk-based frameworks supported by U.S. oversight and agreed certificates and will not restrict market access solely because exporters use certain cheese and meat terms. The agreement also advances reforms in intellectual property protection, digital trade, labor and environmental enforcement, services regulation, customs practices, and procurement, aligned with Guatemala’s broader economic and national security cooperation with the United States.
HOW DOES THE U.S.-ECUADOR FRAMEWORK LINK TARIFF REDUCTIONS WITH TRADE FACILITATION COMMITMENTS?
Ecuador’s framework combines tariff reductions with targeted reforms in licensing and customs procedures. Ecuador has agreed to reduce or eliminate tariffs on selected machinery, chemicals, motor vehicles, health products, information and communications technology goods, and agricultural items, while using tariff rate quotas for some additional products. The agreement also commits Ecuador to reform import licensing and facility registration systems, end pre-shipment inspection mandates, strengthen its Single Window, and expand its Authorized Economic Operator program. Alongside these changes, the framework addresses geographical indications and Special 301 concerns, reinforces labor and environmental protections, and commits Ecuador to cooperate with the United States on services, digital trade, export controls, investment security, duty evasion, and non-market policies.
HOW DOES THE U.S.-EL SALVADOR FRAMEWORK UPDATE DOCUMENTATION, DIGITAL TRADE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENTS?
The framework with El Salvadoris designed to operate alongside CAFTA-DR and concentrates on documentation, regulatory predictability, and digital trade. El Salvador has pledged to streamline approvals for U.S. pharmaceuticals and medical devices, accept U.S. automotive standards, remove restrictions on remanufactured goods, and simplify documentation by accepting electronic certificates and eliminating apostille requirements. The joint statement reiterates El Salvador’s commitment to address and prevent barriers for U.S. agricultural products and will rely on U.S. oversight and agreed certificates while protecting the use of certain cheese and meat terms. The framework also advances alignment with intellectual property treaties, strengthens environmental enforcement in forestry, fisheries, wildlife trade, and mining, and reinforces labor protections, including a prohibition on imports produced by forced or compulsory labor. In services and digital trade, El Salvador will prevent new barriers, refrain from discriminatory digital services taxes, and support the World Trade Organization moratorium on customs duties for electronic transmissions, while expanding cooperation with the United States on state-owned enterprises, subsidies, customs, procurement, investment security, and export controls.
No implementation timelines or compliance guidances has been published in relation to these new trade frameworks.
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