Washington will axe duties on selected imports from Argentina, Ecuador, Guatemala and El Salvador as part of framework trade agreements announced on November 13, in a move the Trump administration said would help reduce consumer prices.

The accords will grant tariff-free access for products not made domestically, such as Ecuadorean bananas and coffee, while maintaining baseline levies of 10% on goods from El Salvador, Guatemala and Argentina, and 15% on Ecuadorean imports, according to a senior US official.

In exchange, the four countries, all ruled by Trump-friendly leaders, have pledged to dismantle non-tariff barriers affecting American exporters and refrain from imposing digital services taxes on US technology companies, the official said.

The White House said the deals would help "US farmers, ranchers, fishermen, small businesses, and manufacturers to increase US exports to and expand business opportunities" with the Latin American partners.

Treasury secretary Scott Bessent announced the initiative on November 13, telling reporters the administration was preparing announcements on agricultural commodities to address cost-of-living pressures facing American households.

The agreements come as President Donald Trump seeks to demonstrate progress on inflation following Republican electoral setbacks last week in New Jersey, New York and Virginia, where voters cited rising prices as a key concern. Democrats have attributed much of the inflation to Trump's extensive tariff regime, which economists say has driven up costs across numerous product categories.

Under the Ecuador agreement, Washington will provide most favoured nation tariff treatment for certain goods "that cannot be grown, mined, or naturally produced in the United States in sufficient quantities", according to the White House. Ecuador has also committed to combat illegal logging and implement fisheries subsidies obligations.

Argentina has agreed to provide preferential market access for US medicines, chemicals, machinery, information technology products, medical devices, motor vehicles and agricultural products. Buenos Aires also pledged to address intellectual property concerns, including patent backlog issues.

El Salvador will streamline regulatory approvals for US exports, accepting vehicles built to American safety standards and FDA certificates for medical devices and pharmaceuticals. The country will also remove barriers for US agricultural products.

Guatemala has committed to facilitating digital trade and protecting labour rights, including prohibiting imports of goods produced by forced labour, according to the White House.

Washington is pursuing similar arrangements with other countries in Central and South America, with potential deals possible before year-end, the official said.

The framework agreements mirror deals struck with Asian trading partners in October, combining selective tariff relief with commitments to open foreign markets to US goods and services.

Argentine foreign minister Pablo Quirno said the arrangement would encourage American investment, crediting President Javier Milei's support for the deal. El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele and Guatemala's Bernardo Arévalo also welcomed the announcements, with Arévalo calling it positive news for his country's investment climate.

Ecuador's government, led by President Daniel Noboa, said the agreement would greatly benefit its export sector. The country is a leading supplier of bananas, shrimp and oil.

The framework deals require finalisation over the coming weeks, the US administration said.