In 2026, Ecuador and Colombia have been at the center of one of the most significant trade tensions in the Andean region in recent decades. Starting on May 1, 2026, the Government of Ecuador officially implemented a 100% tariff on imports from Colombia, a substantial increase from the previously imposed 30% and later 50% tariffs. This measure, which was justified by Quito as a response to border security concerns, has...
The End of Emergency Tariffs: What the Historic U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Means for Ecuador and Its Foreign Trade
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...