Joint Statement on Framework for United States–El Salvador Agreement on Reciprocal Trade

The United States and El Salvador announce a Framework for an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade that strengthens and builds upon their longstanding economic relationship, including CAFTA–DR (Dominican Republic–Central America–United States Free Trade Agreement), which entered into force in 2006.

1. Non-Tariff Barriers

• Streamline regulatory requirements and approvals for U.S. exports, including pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
• Remove import restrictions on remanufactured goods.
• Accept U.S. auto standards.
• Streamline certificate of free sale requirements, accept electronic certificates, and remove apostille requirements.
• Expedite product registration for U.S. exports.

2. Agricultural Products

• Address and prevent barriers to U.S. agricultural products.
• Accept U.S. regulatory oversight and certificates issued by U.S. authorities.

3. Intellectual Property (IP)

• Move forward with certain international IP treaties.
• Provide transparency and fairness regarding geographical indications.
• Ensure market access is not restricted due to the mere use of certain cheese and meat terms.

4. Services and Digital Trade

• Recommit to preventing barriers to services and digital trade.
• Refrain from imposing discriminatory digital services taxes.
• Support a permanent multilateral moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions.

5. Trade Facilitation and Regulatory Practices

• Continue facilitating trade.
• Adopt and implement good regulatory practices.

6. Labor

• Reinforce commitment to protect internationally recognized labor rights.
• Prohibit importation of goods produced by forced or compulsory labor.

7. Environment

• Adopt and maintain high levels of environmental protection and effectively enforce environmental laws.
• Improve forest sector governance and combat illegal logging.
• Strengthen enforcement of fisheries-related measures.
• Combat illegal wildlife trade and illegal mining.
• Work toward accepting the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.

8. State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and Subsidies

• Address potential distortionary actions of SOEs.
• Address industrial subsidies that may impact the bilateral trading relationship.

9. Economic and National Security Cooperation

• Strengthen cooperation to enhance supply chain resilience and innovation.
• Address non-market policies of other countries.
• Cooperate on duty evasion, government procurement, investment security, and export controls.

• In the coming weeks, both countries will:

  • Finalize the Agreement.
  • Prepare for signature.
  • Undertake domestic formalities before the Agreement enters into force.

• Given El Salvador's commitment to advance a stronger and more reciprocal trade relationship, the U.S. will remove reciprocal tariffs on El Salvador's exports for:

  • Certain qualifying exports that cannot be grown, mined, or naturally produced in the U.S. in sufficient quantities.
  • Certain products, such as textiles and apparel, originating under CAFTA–DR.

• The U.S. may positively consider the effect of the Agreement on national security, including when taking trade action under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (19 U.S.C. 1862).

• Both countries look forward to closing the Agreement soon.

Key Commitments by El SalvadorNext Steps and U.S. Tariff Relief