On November 13, 2025, the Trump Administration announced four frameworks for bilateral trade agreements designed to strengthen economic ties between the United States and Argentina, Guatemala, Ecuador, and El Salvador. These frameworks represent a step in advancing the administration’s trade agenda, which aims to rebalance US trade relationships and reinforce economic security across the Western Hemisphere.
The United States–Argentina framework aims to reaffirm the strategic partnership between the two nations. Under the proposed framework for a trade agreement, Argentina will grant preferential market access for US exports in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, machinery, ICT products, medical devices, motor vehicles, and agricultural goods. The United States will lift tariffs on some natural resources that are not available in the United States and non-patented pharmaceutical-related inputs. At present, no further details has been issued on the scope of the tariff relief and the particular products that will benefit from the reductions or elimination of tariffs. Additionally, the countries will commit to enhanced reciprocal bilateral market access to beef. Argentina also proposes to commit to dismantling import licensing requirements, phasing out statistical taxes on US goods and recognizing US or international standards for technical regulations, which would simplify compliance for US exporters. Under the framework, Argentina will also commit to continued enforcement against counterfeit and pirated goods and addressing structural problems affecting its intellectual property regime.
Under the United States–Guatemala framework, the United States will remove the IEEPA reciprocal tariffs on certain Guatemalan products, including products that cannot be grown, mined, or naturally produced in the United States as well as on CAFTA-DR-originating textile and apparel products (though particular products that will benefit from the reductions or elimination of tariffs have yet to be identified). Guatemala will streamline regulatory approvals for US pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and autos, and remove restrictions on remanufactured goods. The framework also includes proposed commitments to science-based regulatory frameworks for agricultural products and expedited authorization processes. In addition, Guatemala will pledge to avoid discriminatory digital services taxes, support the WTO moratorium on customs duties for electronic transmissions, and strengthen intellectual property protections by implementing international treaties and address concerns raised in the United States Trade Representative’s Special 301 Report, which cited inconsistent enforcement against counterfeit apparel and a lack of coordination between law enforcement agencies that hinder Guatemala’s intellectual property regime.
The United States–Ecuador framework envisions that Ecuador will reduce tariffs on US machinery, health products, ICT goods, chemicals, motor vehicles, and certain agricultural products, while introducing tariff-rate quotas for other agricultural products. In return, the United States will commit to remove IEEPA reciprocal tariffs on certain Ecuadoran products that cannot be grown, mined, or naturally produced in sufficient quantities in the United States (the particular products that will benefit from the reductions or elimination of tariffs have yet to be identified). The framework also addresses non-tariff barriers by proposing reforms to import licensing and facility registration for food and agricultural products and eliminating pre-shipment inspection mandates. Trade facilitation measures include expanding the Authorized Economic Operator program and improving customs processes. Ecuador will also commit to enhancing transparency on geographical indications and addressing intellectual property concerns identified by USTR, such as gaps in Ecuador’s intellectual property legislation and inadequate enforcement against counterfeiting.
Under the United States–El Salvador framework the United States will remove the IEEPA reciprocal tariffs on El Salvador’s exports to the United States for certain products not sufficiently available in the United States, and certain products like textiles and apparel originating under the CAFTA-DR (with particular products that will benefit from the reductions or elimination of tariffs yet to be identified). El Salvador will expand market access for US exports, streamline regulatory approvals, and enhance transparency in trade practices. The framework also includes proposed commitments to support digital commerce and reduce tariffs on key sectors, reinforcing economic security and creating new opportunities for exporters.
These announcements of these frameworks to agreements, like the other recently announced framework for trade agreements with other trading partners, lack significant actionable details, including the generally applicable tariff rates and the scope of goods subject to tariff concessions. We expect further details to emerge as negotiations progress and the agreements are formalized and implemented.
