Import Tariffs
As a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) since 1996, Ecuador has a 21.9 percent simple average for tariffs (25.7 percent for agricultural items and 21.2 percent for non-agricultural items). Ecuador’s simple average Most Favored Nation (MFN) tariff rate was 11.2 percent in 2023 (17.4 percent for agricultural products and 10.2 percent for non-agricultural products).
Table 1: Ecuador’s tariff profile (percentages)
| Final bound duties | MFN applied duties | Imports | ||||||
Product groups | AVG | Duty-free | Max | Binding | AVG | Duty-free | Max | Share | Duty-free |
|
| in % |
| in % |
| in % |
| in % | in % |
Live animals and meat | 29.0 | 0 | 86 | 100 | 27.3 | 9.2 | 86 | 0.2 | 48.9 |
Dairy products | 37.1 | 0 | 72 | 100 | 28.4 | 12.0 | 54 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
Fruits and vegetables | 24.9 | 0 | 30 | 100 | 22.7 | 6.1 | 30 | 0.9 | 0.4 |
Coffee, tea, cocoa and spices | 23.4 | 0 | 30 | 100 | 16.8 | 15.7 | 30 | 0.4 | 3.8 |
Cereals and food preparations | 27.8 | 0 | 68 | 100 | 16.9 | 29.8 | 68 | 3.8 | 51.8 |
Oilseeds, fats and oils | 27.7 | 0 | 36 | 100 | 12.4 | 33.6 | 32 | 1.2 | 18.2 |
Sugars and confectionery | 34.3 | 0 | 45 | 100 | 11.1 | 39.4 | 30 | 0.4 | 21.8 |
Beverages and tobacco | 26.2 | 0 | 30 | 100 | 21.1 | 1.0 | 30 | 0.5 | 1.5 |
Cotton, silk and wool | 18.6 | 0 | 20 | 100 | 1.6 | 76.0 | 10 | 0.1 | 99.9 |
Other agricultural products | 21.2 | 0 | 45 | 100 | 6.2 | 64.5 | 45 | 5.1 | 91.5 |
Fish and fish products | 29.2 | 0 | 36 | 100 | 25.6 | 11.5 | 30 | 1.0 | 68.4 |
Minerals and metals | 20.7 | 0 | 30 | 100 | 6.9 | 63.1 | 30 | 18.9 | 83.7 |
Petroleum | 12.9 | 0 | 25 | 100 | 3.9 | 60.3 | 10 | 14.1 | 97.3 |
Chemicals | 11.1 | 0 | 20 | 100 | 2.0 | 84.8 | 20 | 18.5 | 71.2 |
Wood, paper, furniture | 23.3 | 0 | 30 | 100 | 13.1 | 23.8 | 30 | 2.3 | 58.6 |
Textiles | 27.9 | 0 | 30 | 100 | 17.7 | 12.4 | 30 | 2.1 | 23.6 |
Clothing | 30.0 | 0 | 30 | 100 | 25.5 | 0 | 30 | 0.9 | 0 |
Rubber, leather and footwear | 24.3 | 0 | 30 | 100 | 12.3 | 33.8 | 30 | 2.0 | 40.0 |
Mechanical, office and computing machinery | 19.5 | 0 | 25 | 100 | 2.6 | 72.7 | 25 | 8.8 | 82.8 |
Electrical machinery and electronic equipment | 23.2 | 0 | 30 | 100 | 10.3 | 44.9 | 30 | 6.9 | 42.7 |
Transport equipment | 23.2 | 0 | 40 | 100 | 9.3 | 40.4 | 40 | 8.8 | 16.9 |
Other Manufacturers | 23.9 | 0 | 30 | 100 | 14.1 | 34.7 | 30 | 3.1 | 45.5 |
Units: Percentages
Source: WTO
As a member of the Andean Community of Nations (CAN), Ecuador applies Andean Price Band System (APBS) tariffs. The APBS sets minimum and maximum prices for imported agricultural products. A price band is a trade policy instrument used to stabilize import costs and domestic prices for a select group of agricultural products whereby the basic (ad-valorem) tariff is increased or decreased using a variable levy. The amount of the variable levy is calculated based on bi-weekly reference prices and floor and ceiling prices established by the CAN for each product and its related products. The price band works to maintain protection for domestic industry by keeping tariffs high when world prices fall and reducing tariffs when world prices increase. Ecuador maintains the APBS on 189 agricultural products, roughly 2.5 percent of its entire tariff schedule, as per the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body of January 2019.
Ecuador applies a special consumption tax (ICE) to certain “luxury” products including distilled spirits, beer, cigarettes, perfumes, and soft drinks. The ICE rates as of January 2025 are summarized in the following table:
Table 2: 2025 ICE rates
Product category | ICE tax |
Cigarettes | $0.16 per unit |
Sodas with a sugar content greater than 25 grams per liter | Excise tax: $ 0.18 per 100 grams of added sugar. |
Alcohol | 10.30 USD per liter of pure alcohol; 75% ad valorem |
Alcoholic beverages In accordance with the provisions of article 199.5 of the Regulations for the application of the Internal Tax Regime Law, alcoholic beverages and beers made locally with alcohol, sugar cane, agricultural products, or by-products produced or grown locally, will have a 50% reduction in the specific ICE rate. For a listing of local ingredients visit the national producers list. | 10.30 USD per liter of pure alcohol; 75% ad valorem |
Artisanal beer | 1.54 USD per liter of pure alcohol; 75% ad valorem |
Industrial beer | 13.48 USD per liter of pure alcohol; 75% ad valorem |
Single-use plastic bags | $0.08 |
Perfumes and eau de cologne for direct sale | 150% to 300% Resolution: No. NAC-DGERCGC23-00000035 |
Tobacco and tobacco consumables | 50% to 150% |
Firearms, sporting weapons and ammunition | 30% |
Airplanes, light aircraft, and helicopters, except those intended for the commercial transport of passengers, cargo, and services; jet skis, tricars, quads, yachts, and recreational boats | 10% |
Pay TV services excluding streaming | 15% |
Incandescent bulbs | 100% |
Source: SRI