Ecuador Proposes Converting Trade Agreement with the U.S. into an FTA

The Ecuadorian government announced its intention to transform the current Reciprocal Trade Agreement (ART) with the United States into a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The Minister of Production, Foreign Trade, and Investments, Luis Alberto Jaramillo, reported that a formal request to initiate this process will be made.

The ART, signed in March 2026, improved the conditions for Ecuadorian products to access the U.S. market, although it does not include a comprehensive trade framework. A potential FTA would aim to expand tariff preferences, strengthen legal certainty, and generate new opportunities for export sectors.

The consolidation of trade agreements with strategic markets would strengthen Ecuador's international integration and enhance the competitiveness of its productive chains. This strategy complements the progress made with Canada and South Korea, promoting greater opportunities for foreign trade and investment attraction.