El salvador Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in el salvador, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
Market Challenges
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The most common challenges U.S. companies experience in El Salvador include an unpredictable regulatory environment and customs delays. 

Many regulations are approved with a limited or no public consultation period. The Administrative Procedures Law in El Salvador mandates a 15-day notice and comment period for private sector contributions to the development of regulations. However, not all government entities comply, and there is no single website or standardized process for providing notice and soliciting comments on proposed rules and reforms. 

Market entry requirements for importing goods and services are often related to environmental controls, consumer protection, and the regulation of controlled products. U.S. and local companies have raised concerns about customs and non-tariff barriers, including tariff code reclassification, labeling requirements, inconsistent application of customs regulations, and delays in product registration. However, the government’s National Trade Facilitation Committee in conjunction with the private sector, has identified measures aimed at simplifying customs procedures, reducing costs, and improving the process for moving products through certain border crossings. 

El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras are actively advancing the customs union with major milestones, including the operation of integrated border posts at El Amatillo (on the border with Honduras) and Anguiatú–La Ermita (on the border with Guatemala) and piloting the Central American Invoice and Single Declaration (FYDUCA), which is set to become mandatory in January 2026. The adoption of FYDUCA, together with anticipated payment systems, will streamline customs clearance, reduce border wait times, and enhance the competitiveness of cross-border trade throughout the region.

According to the World Bank, El Salvador’s economy had a 2.6% growth rate in 2024, and it is expected to grow 2.2% in 2025. In February 2025, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a 40-month USD 1.4 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement for El Salvador. This program aims to strengthen public finances, rebuild external and financial buffers, and enhance governance and transparency frameworks, which is expected to improve the business climate. The first review of the program, completed in June 2025, confirmed solid performance, as key fiscal and reserve targets were met, and progress continues the government’s ambitious economic reform agenda. Soliciting, offering, or accepting a bribe is considered a criminal act, and U.S. companies doing business in El Salvador are subject to the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). 

In March 2022, the Legislative Assembly approved a national emergency decree, called the State of Exception (SOE), to crack down on gang-related violence. The Assembly has approved extensions of the SOE every 30 days. Under the SOE, the Executive Branch permits contracting and acquisitions to be made without adhering to the Public Procurement Law a direct connection to the emergency can be demonstrated. This creates a fast-moving and often non-transparent procurement process.

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Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

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As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

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