Daily coverage from across the country, written for the expat community
Results for “currency”Clear
Ecuador's monthly fuel price adjustment on April 12 could push low-octane gasoline past the $3/gallon mark for the first time in history. Extra and Ecopaís currently sit at $2.89/gallon; with the 5% monthly cap, they could reach $3.03. Diesel may hit $2.96. The driver: global oil price spikes from the Strait of Hormuz disruption.
The United States and Ecuador have finalized a reciprocal trade agreement that eliminates a 15% surcharge on $2.8 billion in non-oil Ecuadorian exports and opens Ecuador's agricultural market to US soybeans, dairy, beef, and poultry. Most-favored-nation treatment takes effect by August 2026.
The European Commission concluded negotiations on a Sustainable Investment Facilitation Agreement (SIFA) with Ecuador -- the EU's first such deal with any Latin American country. The agreement focuses on streamlining investment authorizations, improving transparency, and includes a first-of-its-kind annex on sustainable energy and raw materials.
The IMF reached a staff-level agreement on the fifth review of Ecuador's $5 billion Extended Fund Facility on March 31. If approved by the Executive Board, Ecuador will receive a $394 million disbursement, bringing total draws to $3.33 billion -- 66% of the program.
Gasoline and diesel prices in Ecuador are expected to increase approximately 5% when the monthly band adjustment takes effect on April 12. Extra and ecopais gasoline currently at $2.89/gallon and diesel premium at $2.82/gallon are being pushed higher by WTI crude above $100/barrel.
The U.S. Trade Representative and Ecuador formalized a reciprocal trade deal covering approximately $2.786 billion in goods. U.S. beef tariffs will phase to zero over three years, pork tariffs are mostly eliminated, and Ecuador secures preferential treatment for over 90% of the U.S. agricultural schedule.
Ecuador's Constitutional Court declared the Strategic Economic Cooperation Agreement (SECA) with South Korea constitutional, clearing the final legal hurdle. 98.8% of Ecuador's exportable products will enter Korea tariff-free, opening access to 51 million consumers.
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 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.
Ecuador's economy is projected to grow approximately 2% in 2026 with inflation holding near 1.5%. Country risk stands at 460 basis points. Here is what the numbers mean for expats living on dollar-denominated income in a dollarized economy.
Ecuador's international reserves reached $11,940 million as of March 13, 2026 — the highest level in the country's history. In a dollarized economy, reserves directly back every dollar in circulation, making this a significant indicator of financial stability.
