Guatemala and U.S. advance Reciprocal Trade Agreement implementation

Guatemalan and American business leaders are evaluating the implementation of the Reciprocal Trade Agreement (ART) signed on January 30, 2026. The agreement complements the existing DR-CAFTA framework and ensures that 75.8% of Guatemalan exports to the United States maintain a 0% tariff rate.

AmCham Guatemala has emphasized the need for effective execution of treaty obligations, focusing on trade facilitation, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, regulatory standards, digital trade, and labor matters. To ensure legal certainty and competitiveness, a national delegation of public and private sector representatives is scheduled to travel to the United States in October to follow up on tariff compliance and explore the inclusion of more products in the preferential list.

Guatemala is currently among ten economies worldwide benefiting from significant tariff advantages. The ongoing efforts involve managing 75 commitments and 73 lines of action to maintain these benefits and deepen the economic alliance between the two nations.