EL SALVADOR
Since April 1997
Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition |
Indicator Signature of the WTO Telecom Reference Paper
WTO Telecom Reference Paper
El Salvador has appended the World Trade Organization (WTO) Telecom Reference Paper to its schedule of commitments.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
EL SALVADOR
Since September 1996
Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition |
Indicator Presence of an independent telecom authority
Decree. No. 808. Law creating the Superintendency of Electricity and Telecommunications (Decreto. No. 808. Ley de Creación de la Superintendencia General de Electricidad y Telecomunicaciones)
According to Art. 1 of the Decree. No. 808, the Superintendency of Electricity and Telecommunications of El Salvador, which is the executive authority for the supervision and administration of services in the telecommunications sector, is independent from the government in the decision-making process.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230517083339/https://www.jurisprudencia.gob.sv/DocumentosBoveda/D/2/1990-1999/1996/10/888A2.PDF
- https://web.archive.org/web/20250308223812/https://datahub.itu.int/data/?i=100088&s=3109&e=SLV
- https://web.archive.org/web/20260224024514/https://app.gen5.digital/tracker/country-cards/El%20Salvador
- Show more...
EL SALVADOR
Since January 2023, entry into force in March 2023
Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services |
Indicator Other limitations on foreign participation in public procurement
Decree No. 652 - Law on Public Procurement (Decreto No. 652 - Ley de Compras Públicas)
Arts. 31-33 of the Public Procurement Act provide special rules for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Art. 31 stipulates that priority in the evaluation of bids may be given to goods manufactured and/or produced in the country. Art. 32 establishes that public administration entities and municipalities should seek to procure or contract with national MSMEs to the extent that they represent at least 25% of their annual budget for procurement and contracting of goods and services, provided that they guarantee the quality of the goods and services in question. Procurement should be sourced from national, regional and local SMEs in the area where the respective procurement and contracting takes place. Furthermore, at least 10% of the budget for procurement and contracting of goods and services should be procured or contracted from MSMEs that are owned, majority-owned or legally represented by women. Finally, Art. 33 establishes that, in the event of two or more evaluated bids whose price and qualification are equal based on the evaluation criteria and other conditions required in the application documents, preference shall be given to the bid submitted by a micro or small enterprise.
The Law on Acquisitions and Contracting of the Public Administration repealed the Law on Acquisitions and Contracting of the Public Administration, which contained similar requirements to those mentioned above in Arts. 39-A and 39-C.
The Law on Acquisitions and Contracting of the Public Administration repealed the Law on Acquisitions and Contracting of the Public Administration, which contained similar requirements to those mentioned above in Arts. 39-A and 39-C.
Coverage Horizontal
EL SALVADOR
Since April 2022
Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services |
Indicator Other limitations on foreign participation in public procurement
Decree No. 359 (Decreto No. 359)
El Salvador has been operating under a state of exception since March 2022, which has been renewed on a monthly basis. As part of the implementation of this measure, the government enacted Decree No. 359, applicable for the duration of the state of exception, which permits the executive branch to negotiate and procure goods and services related to the emergency directly, without complying with the requirements of the Public Procurement Law (Arts. 1 and 2 of Decree No. 359). Reports indicate that the absence of transparency in government procurement and contracting processes under states of emergency is particularly concerning, as it has facilitated corruption and clientelism, matters that are of considerable concern to foreign investors. It is also reported that foreign companies have expressed concerns that government agencies are not always providing sufficient advance notice to foster wide participation in bidding procedures, particularly in relation to complex infrastructure works or public-private partnership projects.
Coverage Horizontal
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20260224010624/https://www.asamblea.gob.sv/sites/default/files/documents/decretos/74651599-19F2-4794-AB01-04991E6F717B.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20260224010631/https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/files/Press/Reports/2025NTE.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20260224013509/https://bti-project.org/en/reports/country-report/SLV
- Show more...
EL SALVADOR
N/A
Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services |
Indicator Signatory of the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) with coverage of the most relevant services sectors (CPC 752, 754, 84)
Lack of participation in the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA)
El Salvador is not a party to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA), nor does it have observer status.
Coverage Horizontal
EL SALVADOR
Since November 1999, last amended in 2013
Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade |
Indicator Maximum foreign equity share
Investment Law (Ley de Inversiones)
According to Art. 5 of the Investment Law, foreign investors have the same rights and obligations as Salvadoran investors and shall not be subject to unfair or discriminatory measures with respect to the establishment, administration, use, usufruct, extension, sale and liquidation of their investments.
Coverage Horizontal
EL SALVADOR
Reported in 2017, last reported in 2025
Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade |
Indicator Screening of investment and acquisitions
Screening of investment and acquisitions
It is reported that certain restrictions apply to micro businesses, which are defined in Art. 3 of the Law on the Promotion, Protection and Development of Micro and Small Enterprises as having 10 or fewer employees and annual sales of approximately USD 175,930 or less. Investors who start operations with 10 or fewer employees must submit plans for increasing employment to the Ministry of Economy’s National Investment Office.
Coverage Micro businesses
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20260224020819/https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-investment-climate-statements/el-salvador
- https://web.archive.org/web/20260224132205/https://www.asamblea.gob.sv/sites/default/files/documents/decretos/B913BF6D-5023-4AE6-A028-B9C1789D2127.pdf
- https://www.state.gov/reports/2017-investment-climate-statements/el-salvador/
- Show more...
EL SALVADOR
ITA signatory?
I
II
Pillar Tariffs and trade defence measures applied on ICT goods |
Indicator Effective tariff rate on ICT goods (applied weighted average)
Effective tariff rate to ICT goods (applied weighted average)
1.10%
Coverage rate of zero-tariffs on ICT goods (%)
82.58%
Coverage: ICT goods
Sources
- http://wits.worldbank.org/WITS/
- https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/brief_ita_e.htm#:~:text=ITA%20participants%3A%20Australia%3B%20Bahrain%3B,%3B%20Jordan%3B%20Korea%2C%20Rep.
- https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/ita20years_2017_full_e.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20220120054410/https://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2016/april/tradoc_154430.pdf
- https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/inftec_e/itscheds_e.htm
EL SALVADOR
N/A
Pillar Tariffs and trade defence measures applied on ICT goods |
Indicator Participation in the WTO Information Technology Agreement (ITA) and 2015 expansion (ITA II)
Lack of participation in the Information Technology Agreement Expansion Agreement (ITA II)
El Salvador is a signatory of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA) of 1996, but is not a signatory of its 2015 expansion (ITA II).
Coverage ICT goods
Sources
- https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/brief_ita_e.htm#:~:text=ITA%20participants%3A%20Australia%3B%20Bahrain%3B,%3B%20Jordan%3B%20Korea%2C%20Rep.
- https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/ita20years_2017_full_e.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20220120054410/https://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2016/april/tradoc_154430.pdf
- https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/inftec_e/itscheds_e.htm
- Show more...
ECUADOR
N/A
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Indicator UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures
Lack of adoption of UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures
Ecuador has not adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Signatures.
Coverage Horizontal
ECUADOR
Since May 2017, entry into force in June 2017
Pillar Technical standards applied to ICT goods and online services |
Indicator Self-certification for product safety
Regulation on the Approval and Certification of Telecommunications Terminal Equipment - No. 03-03-ARCOTEL-2017 (Reglamento para la Homologación y Certificación de Equipos Terminales de Telecomunicaciones - No. 03-03-ARCOTEL-2017)
Art. 10 of the Regulation on the Approval and Certification of Telecommunications Terminal Equipment establishes that applicants possessing a type‑approval certificate issued by an international body recognised by the Telecommunications Regulation and Control Agency (ARCOTEL) need only attach that certificate to their application, with no further requirements. General Provision Two identifies the categories of terminal equipment requiring type approval, including devices for advanced mobile services (mobile telephones or other devices equipped with an IMEI that connect to the networks of advanced mobile service operators), carrier services, fixed telephony, satellite telecommunications, wireless Internet access (excluding computers and other indirect‑access devices), as well as equipment used in trunked and community communication systems. General Provision Three lists the international organisations recognised for type‑approval purposes, such as ANATEL, BIS, CMIIT, the European Community through Declarations of Conformity, ETSI, the FCC, KATS, Taiwan’s NCC, and Canada’s CEBIC.
Coverage Telecommunications terminal equipment
ECUADOR
Since April 2022, entry into force in May 2022
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Indicator Limits on e-commerce purchases
Resolution No. 008-2022 COMEX (Resolución No. 008-2022 COMEX)
Pursuant to Arts. 1 and 2 of Resolution No. 008-2022 issued by COMEX, imports classified under "Category B" must be below the annual limit of USD 1.600 in FOB value per fiscal year. Category B refers to consignments weighing no more than four kilograms and with an FOB value not exceeding USD 400, or its equivalent in another currency, provided that such goods are not intended for commercial purposes.
Coverage Electonic commerce
ECUADOR
N/A
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Indicator Threshold for ‘De Minimis’ rule
Lack of de minimis threshold
From 16 June 2025, COMEX Resolution No. 006-2025 amended the tariff schedule established by COMEX Resolution No. 002-2023. It replaced the 0% tariff for Category B courier parcels under subheading 9807.10.30.00 with a fixed customs duty of USD 20 per parcel.
The limits of USD 400 FOB and 4 kg per parcel remained unchanged, and Art. 2 expressly retained the annual limit of USD 1,600 FOB per recipient established by COMEX Resolution No. 008-2022. As every Category B courier parcel became subject to duty, the regime ceased to constitute a customs-duty de minimis regime.
The limits of USD 400 FOB and 4 kg per parcel remained unchanged, and Art. 2 expressly retained the annual limit of USD 1,600 FOB per recipient established by COMEX Resolution No. 008-2022. As every Category B courier parcel became subject to duty, the regime ceased to constitute a customs-duty de minimis regime.
Coverage Horizontal
ECUADOR
Since November 1999, last amended in March 2023
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Indicator Local presence requirements for digital services providers
Companies Law (Ley de las Compañías)
According to Art. 415 of the Companies Law, foreign companies must appoint at least one representative to carry out all legal acts and businesses that are destined to take effect in the national territory. This representative must be able to answer the demands and comply with the obligations. In addition, they must constitute in Ecuador a capital destined for the activity to be developed.
Coverage Horizontal
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20240328094619/https://portal.compraspublicas.gob.ec/sercop/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ECLEX-PRO-MERCANTI-LEY_DE_COMPANIAS.pdf
- https://sim.oecd.org/Simulator.ashx?lang=En&ds=DGSTRI&d1c=all&d2c=ecu
- https://www.pwc.ec/es/publicaciones/assets/2023/Reforma_a_la_Ley_de_Compa%C3%B1%C3%ADas.pdf
- Show more...
