El Salvador Customs Status & U.S. Trade Treatment

At a glance

U.S. trade agreement

CAFTA-DR

Average duty rate, August 2026

3.50%

Duty on U.S. imports

$6.1M

U.S. imports / exports

$174.6M / $542.3M a month

Agreements per the U.S. Trade Representative; customs territory per the European Commission. Duty is what the Census Bureau calculates for the month, not what was paid; a product's rate can differ widely from the country average.

Top U.S. imports from El Salvador

These 5 make up 41% of U.S. imports from El Salvador in the latest month.

1. Cotton Knit Sweaters, Pullovers, Sweatshirts & Vests HS 611020$19.0M
2. Manmade Fiber Knit Sweaters, Pullovers, Sweatshirts & Vests HS 611030$16.4M
3. US-Origin Articles Exported & Returned Without Advancement HS 980100$12.4M
4. Knit Cotton T-Shirts, Singlets & Tank Tops HS 610910$12.4M
5. Green (Unroasted), Non-Decaffeinated Coffee HS 090111$10.7M

Top U.S. exports to El Salvador

These 5 make up 59% of U.S. exports to El Salvador in the latest month.

1. Petroleum Oils & Bituminous Mineral Oils (Non-Crude, Non-Biodiesel) HS 271019$166.6M
2. Light Petroleum Oils & Preparations (Not Containing Biodiesel) HS 271012$97.1M
3. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) HS 271111$20.0M
4. Low-Value Export Shipments & Canadian Estimated Late Receipts HS 988000$19.4M
5. Civilian Aircraft, Engines, Equipment, and Parts HS 880000$17.6M

Trade overview

El Salvador is a Central American nation and a key trading partner of the United States under the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). Major exports to the US include apparel, coffee, sugar, and textiles, while imports from the US include refined petroleum, machinery, and food products. San Salvador serves as the commercial hub, and the country uses the US dollar as its official currency, simplifying trade transactions.