On November 13, 2025, the United States and the Republic of Guatemala 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”). While representatives from both countries continue to negotiate and finalize the formal agreement, the Joint Statement includes the following key terms:
- The United States will remove reciprocal tariffs on certain originating goods from Guatemala that cannot be grown, mined, or naturally produced in the United States in sufficient quantities, and on certain products, such as textiles and apparel products, originating under the CAFTA-DR.
- Guatemala will address non-tariff barriers affecting trade, including: streamlining regulatory requirements and approvals for U.S. exports, such as pharmaceutical products and medical devices; removing import restrictions on remanufactured goods; accepting U.S. auto standards; and streamlining certificate of free sale requirements, accepting electronic certificates, removing apostille requirements, and expediting product registration requirements for U.S. exports.
- Guatemala will address and prevent barriers to U.S. agricultural products in its market, including acceptance of currently agreed certificates issued by U.S. regulatory authorities.
- Guatemala will implement a robust standard for intellectual property protection and enforcement, including fully implementing certain international intellectual property treaties.
- Guatemala has committed to facilitating digital trade, by refraining from imposing digital services taxes or other measures that discriminate against U.S. digital services or U.S. products distributed digitally.
- Guatemala has committed to protect internationally recognized labor rights. In doing so, Guatemala will prohibit the importation of goods produced by forced or compulsory labor and strengthen its labor laws and their enforcement.
- Guatemala will adopt, maintain and enforce high levels of environmental protection laws, including a commitment to take measures to improve forest sector governance and combat illegal logging, strengthen enforcement of its fisheries-related measures, and combat illegal wildlife trade and illegal mining.
- Guatemala has committed to strengthen economic and national security cooperation with the United States to enhance supply chain resilience, to address non-market policies of other countries, to address duty evasion and to coordinate on investment security and export controls.