Ecuador's primary destination for non-oil exports is the United States. In response to recent developments, the Ecuadorian government is considering negotiations. The 10% tariff imposed by the President of the United States on Ecuadorian products has worsened the situation for the export sector. The Ecuadorian-American Chamber of Commerce has activated all diplomatic and technical channels to engage with trade authorities and urgently seek alternatives to mitigate the impact of this tariff.

In 2024, Ecuador exported $5.043 billion worth of non-oil goods to the U.S., reflecting a 15% growth compared to 2023. In January 2025, exports in this category totalled $533 million, representing a staggering 43.7% increase compared to the same month in 2024, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Foreign Trade, Investments, and Fisheries. Ecuador's primary non-oil export products include shrimp, cocoa, and bananas. These items, previously exempt from tariffs, will now be subject to a 10% tariff.

Shortly after the U.S. president's announcement, the Ecuadorian government issued a statement indicating that the country benefitted from some of the lowest tariff rates applied by the U.S. The Ecuadorian Banana Exporters Association (AEBE) stated on April 2, 2025, that the recent tariff measures imposed by the United States have a global impact but do not uniquely disadvantage Ecuadorian bananas compared to their main competitors.

AEBE explained that Ecuadorian bananas currently have a tariff rate of 0%. However, the new regulation establishes a minimum tariff of 10% for all exporters, including those from Ecuador, Colombia, Guatemala, and Costa Rica, regardless of their trade agreements. This means that competition in the U.S. market remains on equal tariff terms. Furthermore, AEBE highlighted that this measure has not yet been fully implemented, and details regarding its definitive application for bananas and other affected agricultural products are expected in the coming days.

Ecuadorian banana exports to the United States have recently shown positive trends. Between 2020 and 2022, conventional banana exports declined from 36.92 million boxes in 2020 to 30.77 million boxes in 2022. However, recovery began in 2023 with a 5.94% increase, reaching 32.60 million boxes. This growth continued in 2024, with a further rise of 25.24%, totalling 40.82 million boxes. As of January 2025, cumulative exports indicate continued growth, with conventional bananas reaching 5.20 million boxes, representing a 21.55% increase compared to the previous year's period. Meanwhile, organic bananas totalled 1.52 million boxes, reflecting a 5.69% increase.