WT/COMTD/RTA2/M/1  
7 February  2020 
(20-0999) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Trade and Development  
Tenth Dedicated Session on Regional Trade Agreements    
 
 
PARTIAL SCOPE AGREEM ENT BETWEEN EL SALVA DOR AND ECUADOR (GOO DS) 
NOTE ON THE MEETING OF 22 NOVEMBER 2019  
Chairman: H.E. Mr. Chad Blackman (Barbados)  
1.  The Tenth Dedicated Session on Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) of the Committee on Trade 
and Development (CTD) was convened in document  WTO/AIR/COMTD/RTA/5/Rev.1 of 12 November 
2019. Under item B (II) of the agenda , the Committee considered the Partial Scope Agreement 
between El Sal vador and Ecuador (Goods)  (WT/COMTD/RTA2/N/1, WT/COMTD/RTA2/1, 
WT/COMTD/RTA2/2) . The present document contains the minutes relating to the consideration of 
this agreement.1 
2.  The Chairman  said that the Partial Scope Agreement between El Salvador and Ecuador was 
notified under paragraph 4(a) of the Enabling Clause on 22 March 2018. The notification was 
originally circulated on 11 April 2018 in document WT/COMTD/N/57 . It was then re -circulated on 
11 July 2019 in document WT/COMTD/RTA2/N/1, in accordance  with the new symbols for 
notifications and subsequent documentation relating to RTAs, which was  agreed to by the CTD at its 
108th Regular Session on 5 April 2019. The factual presentation on the agreement  – contained in 
document WT/COMTD/RTA2/1 dated 12 J uly 2019 – had been prepared by the Secretariat on its 
own responsibility, and in full consultation with the parties. Written questions from Brazil and the 
Dominican Republic, as well as the replies from the parties, had been circulated in document 
WT/COMT D/RTA2/2.  
3.  The representative of El Salvador  pointed to the historical ties between her country and Ecuador , 
and also noted that the two countries had complementary markets. She said that t he Partial Scope 
Agreement between El Salvador and Ecuador aimed at strengthening existing trade relations through 
the establishment of tariff preferences and the elimination of non -tariff restrictions in bilateral trade, 
on a predictable, transparent and permanent basis. It was a step towards boosting Latin American 
integration, and was also consistent with the rights and obligations of both parties within the 
WTO framework . The negotiations were conducted in four rounds between 2012 and 2016, and the 
outcome was agreed in San Salvador in September 2016. The resulting agreement was signed on 
13 February 2017 in Quito, and entered into force on 16 November 2017.  The agreement provided 
El Salvador with export opportunities to Ecuador for 214 products in a num ber of  sectors, including 
textiles, garments, plastics, jam, chocolate, snacks, juices, nectars and sugar. Ecuador had provided 
immediate access to its market for 161 products originating in El Salvador. At the same time, the 
agreement made it easier for importers in El Salvador to import inputs and other products from 
Ecuador . After the entry into force of th e agreement, total trade between the countries had increased 
by 46%  – from USD 63.7 million in 2017 to USD 119 million in 2018. She noted that the agreement 
also included a cooperation component through which Ecuador would provide technical assistance  in 
the agricultural sector  and share its experiences, including in the areas of research and the 
management of water resources for a gricultural use.  
4.  The representative of Ecuador  said that , through preferential tariff treatment  and the elimination 
of non -tariff barriers, the Partial Scope Agreement between El Salvador and Ecuador aimed to 
facilitate and promote trade in goods between  the two countries  – thereby strengthen ing cooperation 
among  the parties through trade , while also deepen ing integration in Latin America. At the 
 
1 The general minutes of the CTD's Tenth Dedicated Session on RTAs are contained in document 
WT/COMTD/RTA/M/10.  WT/COMTD/RTA2/M/1  
 
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  first meeting of the Administrative Commission for the agreement that was held on 
16 November  2017, the rules of procedure were approved , and provisions concerning the  
certification of origin were adopted. Within the framework of th e agreement, a delegation of the 
Ministry of the Economy of El  Salvador had benefitted from technical assistance provided by 
Ecuador's Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade, Investment and Fisheries  – for the purpose of 
develop ing strategic tools for  business and governmental decision -making . Data from the Central 
Bank of Ecuador showed that,  one year after the agreement entered int o force, 52 % of 
non-petroleum exports to El Salvador had used the preferences negotiated under the agreement, 
while 24% of non -petroleum imports from El Salvador had used the preferences. It was  expected 
that, due to the tariff preferences under the agreem ent, bilateral trade between the two countries 
would progressively increase and diversify in the coming years. She also hoped that the two parties 
would pursue their effort s in reducing non -tariff barriers , so as to  further promote bilateral trade. 
The parties were presently engaged in discussions for the organization of the next  meeting of the 
Administrative Commission , which would provide an opportunity to evaluate the agreement and 
identify mechanisms that would e nergize bilateral trade . In conclusion, she indicated that her 
delegation viewed the future of the agreement with optimism, and was convinced that Ecuador and 
El Salvador would continue to advance towards common goals.  
5.  The representative of Brazil  thanked the parties for their repl y to the question from his delegation. 
He indicated that the repl y had been transmitted to his capital  for any possible follow -up. 
6.  The representative of the United States  expressed appreciation to the parties for their 
participati on in the transparency exercise, and for providing the necessary data to the Secretariat 
for the preparation of the factual presentation.  
7.  The representative of the European Union  indicated that she also wished to thank the parties for 
providing the necessary information and data to participate in the transparency exercise . 
8.  The Chairman  said that oral discussion of the Partial Scope Agreement between El Salvador and 
Ecuador could be  concluded  in accordance with paragraph 11 of the Transparency Mechanism for 
RTAs (RTA TM) . Follow -up questions by Members would need to be submitted in writing to the 
Secretariat within one week, by 29 November 2019. The parties would then be given two we eks to 
submit written replies, by no later than 13 December 2019. In accordance with paragraph 13 of the 
RTA TM, all written submissions as well as the minutes of the present meeting would be circulated 
promptly in all WTO official languages, and would be made available on the WTO website . 
9.  The Committee took note  of all interventions.  
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