There are some trade barriers affecting the import of goods and services to El Salvador. For services, notaries must be Salvadoran, and architects must be licensed in the local jurisdiction.
El Salvador, under its general alcoholic beverage law, assesses a specific excise tax on distilled spirits that is applied on a per-liter of alcohol basis, with four rates (USD 0.0325 per liter, USD 0.05 per liter, USD 0.09 per liter, and USD 0.16 per liter). The lowest rate applies only to aguardiente, a locally bottled spirit made from cane sugar. Whiskey, which is exclusively imported, is assessed at the highest rate. Distinctions between types of distilled spirits result in lower tax rates on domestically produced spirits compared to imported products.
U.S. companies have expressed concerns regarding the inconsistent and discretionary application of customs regulations and procedures, resulting in unpredictable delays and administrative fines. For example, exporting from a duty-free zone is unduly cumbersome, requiring representatives of the receiving company and the shipping company to be physically present to exchange documents and release materials. In part to address these concerns, the Salvadoran Government is piloting a program to move duty-free processing online.
Additionally, the customs valuation process for express shipment imports is unclear.
Animal product exporting facilities are subject to the Ministry of Agriculture (MAG) inspection and certification every three years. Because the CAFTA–DR provides equivalence for the U.S. beef, pork, and poultry inspection systems, the inspection and certification requirements apply to only U.S. animal products not covered by the CAFTA–DR, such as pet food and pet food additives or probiotics.