Friday, February 20, 2026 will be recorded as a turning point in the history of modern international trade. The Supreme Court of the United States, by a sweeping majority of six votes to three, struck down the global tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). For Ecuador — a country that spent months negotiating a Reciprocal Trade Agreement with Washington and that exports...
New U.S. Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum Imports
Introduction The U.S. administration has recently announced significant adjustments to its tariff policy on steel and aluminum imports, measures that will take effect during the first quarter of 2026. These modifications, which aim to protect the domestic steel industry, represent both challenges and opportunities for small and medium-sized Latin American enterprises that maintain trade relations with the United States. Understanding the scope of these changes and preparing adequately is fundamental...
Ecuador’s 30% Tariff on Colombian Imports
On January 21, 2026, Ecuador announced a 30% tariff (described as a “security fee”) on imports from Colombia, set to take effect on February 1, 2026. The measure was framed as a response to alleged insufficient cooperation on border security, particularly against drug trafficking and illegal mining, and to a persistent trade deficit. In the days that followed, Colombia signaled and implemented countermeasures, increasing uncertainty for regional supply chains and...