Daily coverage from across the country, written for the expat community
Three diplomatic developments in a single week: Ecuador ratified a cooperation treaty with Europol on March 26, expelled the Cuban ambassador without explanation in early March, and hosted U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on March 25-26.
Ecuador and the United States signed a bilateral trade agreement on March 18 granting tariff-free access for 53% of Ecuador's non-oil exports, worth $2.786 billion. The deal covers 1,673 tariff subheadings including bananas, shrimp, cocoa, coffee, and flowers.
Ecuador's grid operator CENACE has ordered businesses to self-generate electricity from 9 AM to 11 PM on weekdays since March 17. The Coca Codo Sinclair dam is operating at 37% capacity, and Colombia has suspended 450 MW in electricity exports.
Ecuador and Colombia have imposed 50% tariffs on each other's imports in an escalating trade war that puts $2.8 billion in bilateral trade at risk. Colombia has also suspended electricity exports and raised pipeline fees by 900%.
The United States has deployed approximately 75,000 military personnel to Ecuador in a historic first, marking the largest U.S. military operation in South America in decades. The deployment aims to combat narcotrafficking networks operating along Ecuador's coast and border regions.
Ecuador has imposed an 11pm-to-5am curfew in four coastal provinces — Guayas, Los Rios, Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, and El Oro — as part of the ongoing state of emergency. The restriction runs through at least March 30, 2026.
Ecuador's security situation varies dramatically by region. The highlands — including Quito, Cuenca, and Loja — remain relatively stable, while coastal provinces face serious security challenges. Here is a province-by-province overview for expats.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has established its first permanent office in Ecuador, operating out of the U.S. Embassy in Quito. The office will focus on counter-narcotics intelligence, transnational crime, and cybercrime affecting both nations.
Ecuador has expelled all Cuban diplomatic personnel after embassy staff were reportedly filmed burning documents in the courtyard of the Cuban Embassy in Quito. The move signals a sharp break in relations between the two countries.
Ecuador's 2026 local elections will determine mayors, prefects, and city council members across the country. Contested races in Quito, Guayaquil, and Cuenca could reshape municipal governance in the cities where most expats live.
Ecuador and the United States have signed a trade agreement that eliminates tariffs on 53% of Ecuador's non-oil exports. The deal covers bananas, shrimp, flowers, cacao, and other key agricultural products, strengthening economic ties between the two countries.
Ecuador has signed a comprehensive trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates worth an estimated $3 billion, eliminating tariffs on over 96% of goods traded between the two countries. The deal opens Middle Eastern markets to Ecuadorian agriculture and positions Ecuador as a gateway to Latin America for Gulf investors.
