Breaking news, politics, economy, visas, safety, and lifestyle updates for expats living in Ecuador.
Quito councilman Wilson Merino says taxpayers have reported failures and interruptions in the municipal patent-payment platform just as the filing calendar begins. The concern is practical: once the deadline tied to the ninth RUC digit passes, the system automatically generates late-payment surcharges.
Ecuador’s country-risk indicator closed at 386 basis points on June 12, the lowest level reported since September 30, 2014. The drop signals improved market confidence, though it does not immediately change day-to-day costs for residents.
Travelers connecting through Lima’s Jorge Chávez airport must pay an $11.86 transfer fee called the TUUA. Ecuadorians using Lima for onward connections to South America, Asia and Europe are already feeling the extra cost.
Ecuador is checking gas stations, terminals and distribution centers before fuel prices update on June 12. Officials say gasoline extra, ecopaís, diesel and super are being dispatched normally, while the Esmeraldas refinery has recovered to about 90% of technical capacity.
ANT says Ecuador's new Tercera Placa system will re-register the entire vehicle fleet from zero and replace roughly 200 municipal databases with one national platform. Registration is expected to begin before the end of 2026.
A legal reform moving through Ecuador's Assembly aims to clear about 12,000 abandoned containers from the country's ports. The backlog includes roughly $450 million in retained cargo and average wait times of 365 days.
The U.S. Trade Representative is proposing a 10% tariff for Ecuador and five other economies over enforcement of forced-labor import bans. Public comments are open until July 6, and Ecuador’s current 10% surcharge expires July 24.
Executive Decree 398 reforms Ecuador's tax-regulation framework to update identification, marking, authentication and fiscal traceability controls. SRI will implement and control the marking system for selected taxpayers, goods and services.
Primicias reports Epmaps completed maintenance work that caused a water cut in 39 barrios of Alangasi, Amaguana, Conocoto and Guangopolo. Service may normalize progressively through the early hours of June 5.
El Universo reports merchants and transport workers at Rumichaca expect activity to recover after Ecuador removed the 100% security charge on Colombian imports on June 1. Border workers said normal movement could take about a month to return.
Primicias reports Ecuador's SRI rule requiring IVA declaration and payment at the same time began June 1. A declaration without full payment will not be valid before the tax authority.
Primicias reports Ecuador's government said the second day of maintenance power cuts ended after 7:00 on May 31. The announcement contrasted with official schedules and user complaints from Guayas.
