On November 13, 2025, the United States and the Republic of El Salvador entered a framework for an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade. The Agreement aims to strengthen the countries’ economic partnership established in 2006 under the Dominican Republic–Central America–United States Free Trade Agreement (“CAFTA-DR”). The framework agreement is one of several reached by the Trump administration in an effort to strengthen supply chains and “deepen bilateral trade and investment cooperation to provide American exporters with greater access to markets in Central and South America.”
While representatives from both countries continue to negotiate and finalize the formal agreement, the key terms as set forth in a Joint Statement will include:
- The United States’ commitment to remove reciprocal tariffs on certain exports from El Salvador “that cannot be grown, mined, or naturally produced in the United States in sufficient quantities” and on certain textiles and apparel products under the CAFTA-DR. The United States may also consider any final trade agreement’s positive effect on national security when deciding whether to initiate any trade action under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.
- El Salvador’s commitment to remove non-tariff barriers and simplify regulatory requirements for U.S. exports. El Salvador will reduce the delay for U.S. exports by accepting FDA certificates for pharmaceutical products and medical devices, and accepting vehicles and automotive parts built to U.S. motor vehicle safety and emissions standards.
- El Salvador’s pledge to safeguard U.S. agricultural market access and ensure that exporters are not constrained for using certain cheese and meat terms.
- Both countries’ commitment to support a permanent, multilateral moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions. El Salvador reaffirmed its commitment to refrain from imposing discriminatory digital services taxes and to lower barriers to digital trade with the United States.
- El Salvador’s continued participation in certain international intellectual property treaties and agreement to uphold transparent and fair geographical indications.
- El Salvador’s commitment to adopt and maintain high environmental standards and effectively enforce its environmental laws. It has also pledged to improve forest-sector governance and combat illegal logging, strengthen enforcement of fisheries measures, fight illegal wildlife trade and illegal mining, and work toward acceptance of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.
- El Salvador’s pledge to prohibit the importation of goods produced by forced labor in violation of internationally recognized labor rights.
- A bilateral commitment to enhance supply chain resilience and innovation through strengthening economic and national security cooperation and addressing duty evasion, investment security, government procurement, and export controls.