Executive summary

On 13 and 14 November, 2025, the United States (US) Trump Administration announced several bilateral Frameworks for Agreements on Reciprocal Trade with El Salvador, Argentina, Ecuador, Guatemala, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Separately, President Trump signed an Executive Order titled "Modifying the Scope of the Reciprocal Tariff with Respect to Certain Agricultural Products," expanding the list of agricultural products excluded from the US tariffs. As frameworks, these announcements address market access, tariff treatment and removal of non-tariff barriers, with detailed implementation expected to follow in agency guidance. Importers should review tariff classification and origin documentation now to position for relief and planning.

Frameworks for trade agreements with El Salvador, Argentina, Ecuador and Guatemala

On 13 November 2025, the US Trade Representative announced new frameworks with El Salvador, Argentina, Ecuador and Guatemala. These frameworks outline plans to expand market access for US-origin goods and reduce technical barriers to trade, including standards and conformity assessment. Because they are frameworks, the timing for application and any rules-of-origin changes will depend on forthcoming customs and regulatory guidance.

Salvadoran-origin goods will continue to be subject to 10% US tariffs, except for identified products listed in Annex III to Executive Order 14346, which will be subject to a 0% tariff. El Salvador committed to removing non-tariff barriers by accepting US-manufactured vehicles built to US safety and emissions standards, recognizing US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) certificates and prior marketing authorizations for medical devices and pharmaceuticals, and removing labeling restrictions on US cheese and meat. Broader commitments include facilitating digital trade, services and investment (including not imposing digital services tax), strengthening intellectual property protection and enforcement, enhancing labor protections (including prohibiting imports produced with forced or compulsory labor), and improving environmental enforcement (including forest sector governance and steps toward accepting the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies).

Argentine-origin goods will continue to be subject to 10% US tariffs, with Annex III products at 0%. Argentina committed to allowing entry of US goods that meet applicable US or international standards without additional conformity assessment, dismantling consular formalities for US exports, and phasing out the "statistical tax" on US-origin goods (currently 0.5% to 3%, capped at US$500). Argentina also committed to strengthening intellectual property protection (including addressing patent backlogs and geographical indications), facilitating digital trade, services, and investment, and enhancing labor and environmental protections.

Ecuadorian-origin goods will continue to be subject to 15% US tariffs, with Annex III products at 0%. Ecuador committed to ending pre-shipment inspection mandates, establishing contingency plans for its Single Window, expanding its Authorized Economic Operator program to include express delivery carriers, and creating tariff-rate quotas for defined agricultural goods. Ecuador also committed to facilitating digital trade, services, and investment, strengthening intellectual property protection and enforcement, improving environmental enforcement (including fisheries subsidies compliance and forest governance) and enhancing labor protections.

Guatemalan-origin goods will continue to be subject to 10% US tariffs, with Annex III products at 0%. Guatemala committed to adopting customs best practices and good regulatory practices, removing barriers to digital trade, services and investment (including by not imposing digital services tax), and strengthening intellectual property protection, labor protections (including implementing the Joint Initiative on Services Domestic Regulation) and environmental enforcement.

Frameworks for trade agreements with Switzerland and Liechtenstein

Announced on 14 November 2025, new trade frameworks with Switzerland and Liechtenstein mirror the objectives of expanding market access for US-origin goods and reducing barriers to trade.

Goods originating in Switzerland will be subject to a cumulative tariff rate of no higher than 15% (aligned with European Union treatment), and Annex III products will be subject to a 0% tariff. Switzerland committed to removing tariffs across agriculture and industrial sectors (including fresh and dried nuts, fish and seafood, certain fruits, chemicals, and spirits such as whiskey and rum) and to establishing tariff-rate quotas for US-origin poultry, beef and bison. Switzerland also committed to increasing purchases of US-origin goods, facilitating investment into the US and removing tariff and non-tariff barriers to US-origin goods. Jointly with Liechtenstein, Switzerland will "encourage and facilitate at least $200 billion of investment into the United States, across all 50 states, over the next five years, to create manufacturing and research and development jobs," with one-third of these investments by the end of 2026.

Goods originating in Liechtenstein will be subject to a cumulative tariff rate of no higher than 15% (aligned with Switzerland and the European Union), with Annex III products at 0%. Liechtenstein committed to removing tariffs on US-originating products across agriculture and industrial sectors (including fresh and dried nuts, fish and seafood, certain fruits, chemicals, and spirits such as whiskey and rum), encouraging and facilitating investment into the US, and increasing by 50% the number of jobs created by its private sector in the US over the same period, with one-third of the investments by the end of 2026. Liechtenstein also committed to taking steps to strengthen supply chain security.

Expanded exclusions for agricultural products

On 14 November 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order titled "Modifying the Scope of the Reciprocal Tariff with Respect to Certain Agricultural Products," which expands the scope of tariff-excluded products under Executive Order 14257, published on 2 April 2025. Effective for goods entering the US for consumption or withdrawn from a warehouse for consumption, on or after 13 November 2025, 237 agricultural Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the US (HTSUS) product classifications and 11 additional categories of agricultural products were added to Annex II of Executive Order 14257. Products classified under these added HTSUS provisions are now exempt from the US tariffs imposed under the 2 April 2025 Executive Order. Accurate classification is critical: importers with entries on or after 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 13 November 2025 should evaluate eligibility and may seek refunds via a Post Summary Correction (PSC); upon PSC approval, refunds will be issued at liquidation. The update also references "potential products" for aligned trade partners in Annex III, which identifies products eligible for 0% tariffs under the new frameworks.

Effective dates and implementation

These Latin American and Swiss-Liechtenstein frameworks establish a trade policy direction but require subsequent agency guidance to provide application dates, qualifying origin documentation and any operational changes. The agricultural exclusions under Annex II are effective for entries on or after 13 November 2025. Companies should monitor forthcoming notices from US Customs and Border Protection, the US Trade Representative and the US Department of Commerce for implementation details, including any rules-of-origin updates and tariff-rate quota administration.

What this means for businesses

Importers and producers should continue to assess supply chains and tariff profiles. For goods from El Salvador, Argentina, Ecuador and Guatemala, confirm origin and HTSUS classification to leverage 0% tariff treatment for Annex III products while recognizing the continuing base tariffs (10% for El Salvador, Argentina and Guatemala; 15% for Ecuador). For goods from Switzerland and Liechtenstein, plan around the 15% cap on cumulative tariffs and 0% for Annex III products, and evaluate the implications arising from tariff removals, tariff-rate quotas for poultry, beef and bison, and announced investment flows. Agricultural suppliers should map product classifications against the newly added Annex II exclusions to identify immediate relief and pursue PSCs where appropriate.

Actions for businesses to consider

Companies importing goods into the US may want to consider some of the following actions, provided they align with business objectives:

• Analyze the impact of updated tariff structures and framework agreements on import strategies and compliance obligations.
• Prepare PSCs for eligible agricultural entries on or after 13 November 2025; align refund expectations with liquidation timelines.
• Engage with legal and trade advisors to navigate the complexities of new regulations and ensure compliance.
• Monitor agency guidance for framework implementation and tariff-rate quota administration.
• Evaluate existing contracts with suppliers and customers to understand the impact of tariff changes on duties.
• Consider renegotiating supplier and customer pricing agreements and/or cost-splitting arrangements.