Daily coverage from across the country, written for the expat community
Ecuador's April 9 imposition of a 100% tariff on Colombian products — targeting $2 billion in annual bilateral trade — has triggered the deepest institutional crisis the Comunidad Andina has faced in its 57-year existence. Former Colombian president Álvaro Uribe publicly warned Ipiales is "in ruin."
President Noboa said on April 13 that he has "no great hope" that Colombian President Gustavo Petro will change course on border security or commercial reciprocity. Ecuador will wait for Colombia's next administration before attempting a long-term solution. The trade war continues.
President Daniel Noboa announced on April 13 that he will make an official visit to China in August 2026, framing it around trade with nations that have become important Ecuador partners over the last 20 years. His first China visit was in June 2025.
Ecuador's Constitutional Court ruled unanimously (9-0) that President Noboa cannot fast-track the bilateral investment treaty with the UAE. The ISDS provisions trigger constitutional review, and the treaty must be approved by the National Assembly. Investors tracking the UAE corridor should expect delays.
President Noboa said Ecuador would welcome US military troops to fight organized crime, provided they operate under Ecuadorian Armed Forces command. Joint operations are already underway, including Pacific naval exercises with the USS Nimitz and a border strike against Comandos de la Frontera.
After Colombia's President Petro asked Noboa to release former Vice President Jorge Glas during a meeting in the Galápagos, Ecuador's government pushed back hard — rejecting the 'political prisoners' framing and affirming that Glas is detained for corruption, not politics.
Ecuador's state electricity company CELEC has filed a lawsuit in US federal court alleging that Progen, a private contractor, delivered refurbished and non-functional emergency generators under $149 million in contracts while draining the project's bank account to zero. The fraud is directly linked to the 2024 blackout crisis.
Ecuador's National Assembly passed a new mining and energy law 77-70 on February 26, replacing environmental licenses with simplified authorizations and allowing rock extraction in the Galapagos Islands. CONAIE and environmental groups are protesting the changes as a rollback of decades of conservation policy.
Police K-9 units intercepted nearly 22,000 dried shark fins weighing 1,905 kilograms at Guayaquil's Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport on April 2. The shipment -- 75 bundles disguised as fish bladders -- was bound for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is one of Ecuador's largest shark fin seizures in recent years.
Ecuador's Registro Civil has extended walk-in service for cedulas and passports through July 31, 2026. No online appointment is needed. All agencies operate Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Cedula costs range from $5 for first issuance to $16 for renewal.
An electoral judge suspended Citizens' Revolution (RC), former President Rafael Correa's party, for nine months — just two days after a complaint was filed and without a defense hearing. The timing effectively bars the party from registering candidates for 2027 local elections.
Amnesty International submitted evidence to the UN documenting 10 people disappeared in five military operations in 2024, with 43 possible victims since 2023. A landmark court ruling sentenced 11 military officers to 34+ years for the disappearance of four teenagers in Guayaquil.
