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Canada - Ecuador FTA (2026)
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Sub-Sector: Port Services

Obligations Concerned: National Treatment (Articles 15.6 and 16.3)

Level of Government: Central

Measures: Resolution No. MTOP-SPTM-2016-0060-R,

Official Gazette 732, 13 April 2016 (last reform on

29 November 2023), Rules that regulate port

services in Ecuador.

Description: Investment and Cross-Border Trade in Services

Only national juridical persons can provide port

services, for which they must obtain the respective

registration.

Annex I - ECUADOR-32

24. Sector: Maritime Transport

Sub-Sector: National Water Transport

Obligations Concerned: National Treatment (Article 16.3)

Level of Government: Central

Measures: Ley de Facilitación de las Exportaciones y del

Transporte Acuático (Law on Export and Water

Transport Facilitation), Official Gazette 901,

25 March 1992 (last reform on 21 May 2008),

Chapter II (Water Transport).

Resolution No. 116/01, Requirements for the

chartering or leasing, in exceptional cases, of

vessels of other flags that will be used by national

shipping companies (shipowners) in cabotage

traffic, Official Gazette 399, 28 August 2021,

Chapter II (Water Transport).

Resolution No. MTOP-SPTM-2021-0034-R,

Regulations for the application of Chapter IX of the

Regulation to Maritime Activity regarding the

issuance of the national and international traffic

permit, internal trajectory and exceptional

authorizations, for Ecuadorian flag vessels and

foreign flag vessels sailing in national waters,

Official Gazette Supplement 472, 14 June 2021,

Chapter VI (Exceptional authorization for the

provision of transport services for foreign-flagged

vessels).

Description: Cross-Border Trade in Services

1. The internal water transport of passengers

and cargo is reserved exclusively for

Ecuadorian-flagged vessels.

2. An exceptional authorization may be

granted to foreign-flagged vessels for the

provision of internal water transport services

for passengers and cargo.

Annex I - ECUADOR-33

25. Sector: Maritime Transport

Sub-Sector: Hydrocarbons Loading, Unloading and Storage

Obligations Concerned: National Treatment (Articles 15.6 and 16.3)

Most-Favored-Nation Treatment (Articles 15.7

and 16.4)

Market Access (Article 16.5)

Level of Government: Central

Measures: Ley de Facilitación de las Exportaciones y del

Transporte Acuático (Law on Export and Water

Transport Facilitation), Official Gazette 901, of

25 March 1992 (last reform on 21 May 2008),

Chapter II (Water Transport).

Description: Investment and Cross-Border Trade in Services

The loading, unloading and storage of hydrocarbons,

except by the principle of reciprocity, is assigned

exclusively to national, Ecuadorian State or mixed

shipping companies in which the Ecuadorian State

has a participation of at least 51% of the share

capital.

Annex I - ECUADOR-34

26. Sector: Transportation Services

Sub-Sector: International Maritime Transport

Obligations Concerned: National Treatment (Articles 15.6 and 16.3)

Most-Favored-Nation Treatment (Articles 15.7

and 16.4)

Market Access (Article 16.5)

Level of Government: Central

Measures: Ley de Facilitación de las Exportaciones y del

Transporte Acuático (Law on the Facilitation of

Exports and Water Transport), Official Gazette 901,

of 25 March 1992 (last reform on 21 May 2008),

Chapter II (Water Transport).

Reglamento de Ley de Facilitación de las

Exportaciones y del Transporte Acuático

(Regulation on the Law on the Facilitation of

Exports and Water Transport), Official Gazette

Supplement 956, of 12 June 1992 (last reform on

27 March 1997).

Description: Investment and Cross-Border Trade in Services

1. In international maritime transport to and

from Ecuador, the principle of effective

reciprocity shall be complied with. Effective

reciprocity is understood as the access that

foreign vessels have for the transport of

import and export cargo that Ecuador

generates, under the same conditions of

access that are granted to ships of

Ecuadorian flag or to ships chartered or

operated by national shipping companies, by

the respective foreign country.

2. The Undersecretariat of Ports and Maritime

and River Transport may temporarily

establish restrictions against companies or

vessels flying the flag of third countries,

when the counterpart countries impose them

on ships owned, chartered or operated by

Ecuadorian shipping companies. In any

case, free competition in export shipping

will not be affected.

Annex I - ECUADOR-35

27. Sector: Free Zones

Sub-Sector:

Obligations Concerned: Performance Requirements (Articles 15.12)

Level of Government: Central

Measures: Código Orgánico de la Producción (Organic Code

on Production, Trade and Investment), Official

Gazette Supplement 351, of 29 December 2010 (last

reform on 30 January 2024), Title IV (Free Zones),

Chapter IX (Control of Free Zones), Section 3

(Customs regime and foreign trade).

Description: Investment

All merchandise imported into the national territory

from the Free Zones will be subject to the

corresponding applicable legal system for the

payment of taxes on foreign trade. The user will be

able to sell up to twenty percent (20%) of the goods

and services produced in the Free Zone to the

national territory, complying with the corresponding

customs obligations.

Annex II.

Schedule of Canada

Introductory Notes

1. The Schedule of a Party to this Annex sets out, pursuant to Articles 15.18 (Investment – Non-Conforming Measures) and 16.7 (Cross-Border Trade in

Services – Non-Conforming Measures), the specific sectors, subsectors or activities for which that Party may maintain existing, or adopt new or more restrictive, measures that do not conform with obligations imposed by:

(a) Article 15.6 (Investment – National Treatment) or 16.3 (Cross-Border Trade in Services – National Treatment);

(b) Article 15.7 (Investment – Most-Favored-Nation Treatment) or 16.4 (Cross-Border Trade in Services – Most-Favored-Nation Treatment);

(c) Article 15.12 (Investment – Performance Requirements);

(d) Article 15.13 (Investment – Senior Management and Boards of Directors); or

(e) Article 16.5 (Cross-Border Trade in Services – Market Access).

2. Each Schedule entry sets out the following elements:

(a) Sector refers to the sector for which the entry is made;

(b) Sub-Sector, where referenced, refers to the specific subsector for which the entry is made;

(c) Obligations Concerned specifies the obligation(s) referred to in paragraph 1 that, pursuant to Articles 15.18(1)(a) (Investment – Non-Conforming Measures) and 16.7(1)(a) (Cross-Border Trade in Services – Non-Conforming Measures), do not apply to the sectors, subsectors, or activities listed in the entry;

(d) Description sets out the scope or nature of the sectors, subsectors, or activities covered by the entry to which the reservation applies; and

(e) Existing Measures identifies, for transparency purposes, a non-exhaustive list of existing measures that apply to the sectors, subsectors, or activities covered by the entry.

3. For greater certainty, in the interpretation of an entry, all elements of the entry shall be considered, and the Description element prevails over all other elements.

4. In accordance with Articles 15.18(2) (Investment – Non-Conforming Measures) and 16.7(2) (Cross-Border Trade in Services – Non-Conforming Measures), the articles of this Agreement specified in the Obligations Concerned element of an entry do not apply to the sectors, subsectors, and activities identified in the Description element of that entry.

Sector: Aboriginal Affairs

Sub-sector:

Obligations Concerned: National Treatment (Articles 15.6 and 16.3)

Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment (Articles 15.7 and 16.4) Performance Requirements (Article 15.12)

Senior Management and Boards of Directors (Article 15.13)

Description: Investment and Cross-Border Trade in Services

Previous page Page 44 Next page
  • Chapter   1 INITIAL PROVISIONS AND GENERAL DEFINITIONS 1
  • Section   A Initial Provisions 1
  • Article   1.1 Establishment of a Free Trade Area 1
  • Article   1.2 Relation to other Agreements 1
  • Article   1.3 Reference to other Agreements 1
  • Article   1.4 Reference to Laws 1
  • Article   1.5 Extent of Obligations 1
  • Article   1.6 Delegated Authority 1
  • Section   B General Definitions 1
  • Article   1.7 General Definitions 1
  • Article   1.8 Country-Specific Definitions 1
  • Chapter   2 NATIONAL TREATMENT AND MARKET ACCESS FOR GOODS 1
  • Section   A Definitions and Scope 1
  • Article   2.1 Definitions 1
  • Article   2.2 Scope 1
  • Section   B National Treatment and Market Access for Goods 1
  • Article   2.3 National Treatment 1
  • Article   2.4 Classification of Goods 2
  • Article   2.5 Reduction or Elimination of Customs Duties on Imports 2
  • Article   2.6 Waiver of Customs Duties 2
  • Article   2.7 Import and Export Restrictions 2
  • Article   2.18 Import Licensing 2
  • Article   2.9 Export Licensing 2
  • Article   2.10 Administrative Fees and Formalities 2
  • Article   2.11 Exchange of Data for Preference Utilization 2
  • Article   2.12 State Trading Enterprises 2
  • Section   C Institutional Provisions 2
  • Article   2.13 Committee on Trade In Goods 2
  • Section   D Agriculture 2
  • Article   2.14 Definitions 2
  • Article   2.15 Scope 2
  • Article   2.16 Export Restrictions – Food Security 2
  • Article   2.17 Export Competition 2
  • Article   2.18 The Andean Price Band System 2
  • Article   2.19 Sub-Committee on Agriculture 2
  • Chapter   3 RULES OF ORIGIN 2
  • Article   3.1 Definitions 2
  • Article   3.2 Originating Goods 3
  • Article   3.3 Wholly Obtained or Produced Goods 3
  • Article   3.4 Regional Value Content 3
  • Article   3.5 Accumulation 3
  • Article   3.6 Materials Used In Production 3
  • Article   3.7 De Minimis 3
  • Article   3.8 Treatment of Recovered Materials Used In Production of a Remanufactured Good 3
  • Article   3.9 Fungible Goods and Materials 3
  • Article   3.10 Indirect Materials 3
  • Article   3.11 Accessories, Spare Parts, Tools, and Instructional or other Information Materials 3
  • Article   3.12 Packaging Materials and Containers for Retail Sale 3
  • Article   3.13 Packing Materials and Containers for Shipment 3
  • Article   3.14 Transit and Transhipment 3
  • Article   3.15 Non-Qualifying Operations 3
  • Chapter   4 ORIGIN PROCEDURES 3
  • Article   4.1 Definitions 3
  • Article   4.2 Claims for Preferential Tariff Treatment 3
  • Article   4.3 Basis of a Certificate of Origin 4
  • Article   4.4 Discrepancies and Minor Errors 4
  • Article   4.5 Waiver of Certificate of Origin 4
  • Article   4.6 Obligations Relating to Importation 4
  • Article   4.7 Obligations Relating to Exportation 4
  • Article   4.8 Record Keeping Requirements 4
  • Article   4.9 Verification of Origin 4
  • Article   4.10 Determinations on Claims for Preferential Tariff Treatment 4
  • Article   4.11 Refunds 4
  • Article   4.12 Penalties 4
  • Article   4.13 Advance Rulings Relating to Origin 4
  • Article   4.14 Review and Appeal 4
  • Article   4.15 Confidentiality 4
  • Article   4.16 Cooperation 4
  • Article   4.17 Committee on Rules of Origin and Origin Procedures 4
  • Chapter   5 CUSTOMS AND TRADE FACILITATION 5
  • Article   5.1 General Objectives and Principles 5
  • Article   5.2 Online Publications 5
  • Article   5.3 Enquiry Points 5
  • Article   5.4 Consulting Traders 5
  • Article   5.5 Advance Rulings 5
  • Article   5.6 Release of Goods 5
  • Article   5.7 Perishable Goods (1) 5
  • Article   5.8 Express Shipments 5
  • Article   5.9 Single Window 5
  • Article   5.10 Risk Management 5
  • Article   5.11 Consistency 5
  • Article   5.12 Customs Valuation of Goods 5
  • Article   5.13 Post-Clearance Audit 5
  • Article   5.14 Penalties 5
  • Article   5.15 Review and Appeal 5
  • Article   5.16 Protection of Trader Information 5
  • Article   5.17 Standards of Conduct 5
  • Article   5.18 Customs Cooperation 5
  • Article   5.19 Authorized Economic Operators 5
  • Article   5.20 Committee on Trade Facilitation 5
  • Chapter   6 SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 6
  • Article   6.1 Definitions 6
  • Article   6.2 Objectives 6
  • Article   6.3 Scope 6
  • Article   6.4 General Provisions 6
  • Article   6.5 Science and Risk Analysis 6
  • Article   6.6 Equivalence 6
  • Article   6.7 Adaptation to Regional Conditions, Including Pest - or Disease - Free Areas and Areas of Low Pest or Disease Prevalence 6
  • Article   6.8 Transparency 6
  • Article   6.9 Emergency Measures 6
  • Article   6.10 Import Checks 6
  • Article   6.11 Audits 6
  • Article   6.12 Certification 6
  • Article   6.13 Approval Procedures for Import Maximum Residue Limits for Plant Protection Products 6
  • Article   6.14 Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures 6
  • Article   6.15 Technical Consultations 7
  • Article   6.16 Competent Authorities and Contact Points 7
  • Chapter   7 TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE 7
  • Article   7.1 Definitions 7
  • Article   7.2 Scope 7
  • Article   7.3 Incorporation of the TBT Agreement 7
  • Article   7.4 International Standards, Guides and Recommendations 7
  • Article   7.5 Technical Regulations 7
  • Article   7.6 Gender Responsive Technical Regulations and Standards 7
  • Article   7.7 Conformity Assessment 7
  • Article   7.8 Transparency 7
  • Article   7.9 Compliance Period for Technical Regulations and Conformity Assessment Procedures 7
  • Article   7.10 Information Exchange and Technical Discussions 7
  • Article   7.11 Cooperation 7
  • Article   7.12 Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade 8
  • Article   7.13 Contact Points 8
  • Chapter   8 EMERGENCY ACTION 8
  • Article   8.1 Definitions 8
  • Article   8.2 Coordination of Safeguard Measures 8
  • Article   8.3 Application of a Bilateral Emergency Action 8
  • Article   8.4 Notification and Consultations 8
  • Article   8.5 Standards for Emergency Action 8
  • Article   8.6 Compensation 8
  • Article   8.7 Administration of Emergency Action Proceedings 8
  • Chapter   9 COMPETITION POLICY 8
  • Article   9.1 Definitions 8
  • Article   9.2 Objectives 8
  • Article   9.3 Competition Laws and Authorities 8
  • Article   9.4 Procedural Fairness In Competition Law Enforcement 8
  • Article   9.5 Transparency 8
  • Article   9.6 Confidentiality 8
  • Article   9.7 Consumer Protection 8
  • Article   9.8 Cooperation In Competition and Consumer Protection 8
  • Article   9.9 Consultations 8
  • Article   9.10 Non-Application of Dispute Settlement 9
  • Chapter   10 STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES AND DESIGNATED MONOPOLIES 9
  • Article   10.1 Definitions 9
  • Article   10.2 Scope 9
  • Article   10.3 Non-discriminatory Treatment and Commercial Considerations 9
  • Article   10.4 Courts and Administrative Bodies 9
  • Article   10.5 Adverse Effects 9
  • Article   10.6 Injury 9
  • Article   10.7 Transparency 9
  • Article   10.8 Technical Cooperation 10
  • Article   10.9 Contact Points 10
  • Article   10.10 Party-Specific Annexes 10
  • Article   10.11 Exceptions 10
  • Article   10.12 Process for Developing Information 10
  • Chapter   11 GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT 10
  • Chapter   12 ENVIRONMENT 12
  • Chapter   13 LABOUR 14
  • Chapter   14 TRANSPARENCY, ANTI-CORRUPTION AND RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS CONDUCT 15
  • Chapter   15 INVESTMENT 15
  • Section   A Definitions 16
  • Article   15.1 Definitions 16
  • Section   B Investment Protections 16
  • Article   15.2 Scope 16
  • Article   15.3 Relation to other Chapters 16
  • Article   15.4 Right to Regulate 16
  • Article   15.5 Non-Derogation 16
  • Article   15.6 National Treatment 16
  • Article   15.7 Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment 16
  • Article   15.8 Treatment In Case of Armed Conflict, Civil Strife or Natural Disaster 16
  • Article   15.9 Minimum Standard of Treatment 16
  • Article   15.10 Expropriation 16
  • Article   15.11 Transfer of Funds 16
  • Article   15.12 Performance Requirements 16
  • Article   15.13 Senior Management and Boards of Directors 17
  • Article   15.14 Subrogation 17
  • Article   15.15 Responsible Business Conduct 17
  • Article   15.16 Denial of Benefits 17
  • Article   15.17 Special Formalities and Information Requirements 17
  • Section   C Reservations, Exceptions, Exclusions 17
  • Article   15.18 Non-Conforming Measures 17
  • Article   15.19 Article 15.19: Exclusions 17
  • Section   D Investor-State Dispute Settlement 17
  • Article   15.20 Scope and Purpose 17
  • Article   15.21 Request for Consultations 17
  • Article   15.22 Mediation 17
  • Article   15.23 Submission of a Claim to Arbitration 17
  • Article   15.24 Consent to Arbitration 17
  • Article   15.25 Discontinuance 17
  • Article   15.26 Arbitrators 17
  • Article   15.27 Applicable Law and Interpretation 17
  • Article   15.28 Preliminary Objections 17
  • Article   15.29 Consolidation 17
  • Article   15.30 Seat of Arbitration 17
  • Article   15.31 Transparency of Proceedings 18
  • Article   15.32 Participation of the Non-Disputing Party 18
  • Article   15.33 Expert Reports 18
  • Article   15.34 Interim Measures of Protection 18
  • Article   15.35 Final Award 18
  • Article   15.36 Finality and Enforcement of an Award 18
  • Article   15.37 Third-Party Funding 18
  • Article   15.38 Service of Documents 18
  • Article   15.39 Receipts Under Insurance or Guarantee Contracts 18
  • Article   15.40 Establishment of a First Instance Investment Tribunal or an Appellate Mechanism for Investor-State Dispute Settlement 18
  • Article   15.41 Committee on Investment 18
  • Section   E Expedited Arbitration 18
  • Article   15.42 Consent to Expedited Arbitration 18
  • Article   15.43 Mediation 18
  • Article   15.44 Constitution of the Tribunal 18
  • Article   15.45 First Session In Expedited Arbitration 18
  • Article   15.46 Procedural Schedule for Expedited Arbitration 18
  • Article   15.47 Consolidation 18
  • Annex 15-A  Exclusions from Dispute Settlement 18
  • Annex 15-B  Arbitration Rules 18
  • Section   I Introductory Rules 18
  • Section   II Composition of the Tribunal 18
  • Section   III Arbitral Proceedings 19
  • Section   IV The Award 19
  • Annex 15-C  Arbitrator Code of Conduct for Investor-State Dispute Settlement (Code of Conduct) 19
  • Appendix 15-C.1  Appendix to the Arbitrator Code of Conduct for Investor-State Dispute Settlement: Initial Disclosure Statement Form 20
  • Chapter   16 CROSS-BORDER TRADE IN SERVICES 20
  • Chapter   17 DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF MEASURES 21
  • Chapter   18 FINANCIAL SERVICES 22
  • Chapter   19 TEMPORARY MOVEMENT OF BUSINESS PERSONS 24
  • Chapter   20 TELECOMMUNICATIONS 25
  • Chapter   21 DIGITAL TRADE 26
  • Article   21.1 Definitions 26
  • Article   21.2 Scope 27
  • Article   21.3 Access to and Use of the Internet for Digital Trade 27
  • Article   21.4 Domestic Electronic Transactions Framework 27
  • Article   21.5 Electronic Authentication and Electronic Signatures 27
  • Article   21.6 Online Consumer Protection 27
  • Article   21.7 Personal Data Protection 27
  • Article   21.8 Unsolicited Commercial Electronic Messages 27
  • Article   21.9 Prohibition of Customs Duties on Digital Products Transmitted Electronically 27
  • Article   21.10 Non-Discriminatory Treatment of Digital Products 27
  • Article   21.11 Cross-Border Transfer of Information by Electronic Means 27
  • Article   21.12 Location of Computing Facilities 27
  • Article   21.13 Source Code 27
  • Article   21.14 Open Government Data 27
  • Article   21.15 Digital Inclusion 27
  • Chapter   22 TRADE AND GENDER EQUALITY 27
  • Chapter   23 SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES 28
  • Chapter   24 TRADE AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES 29
  • Chapter   25 GOOD REGULATORY PRACTICES 29
  • Chapter   26 ADMINISTRATIVE AND INSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS 30
  • Chapter   27 DISPUTE SETTLEMENT 31
  • Chapter   28 EXCEPTIONS AND GENERAL PROVISIONS 34
  • Section   A Exceptions 34
  • Article   28.1 General Exceptions 34
  • Article   28.2 Security Exceptions 34
  • Article   28.3 Taxation 34
  • Article   28.4 Cultural Industries 34
  • Article   28.5 Balance of Payments 34
  • Article   28.6 Indigenous Peoples Rights 34
  • Article   28.7 WTO Waivers 34
  • Section   B General Provisions 34
  • Article   28.8 Disclosure of Information 34
  • Chapter   29 FINAL PROVISIONS 35
  • Article   29.1 Integral Parts of this Agreement 35
  • Article   29.2 Amendments 35
  • Article   29.3 Entry Into Force 35
  • Article   29.4 Termination 35
  • Article   29.5 Authentic Texts 35
  • Annex I  35
  • Annex I  38
  • Annex II  44
  • Annex II  46
  • Annex III  52
  • Annex IV  53
    • Name
    Canada - Ecuador FTA (2026)
    PDF Link
    Canada - Ecuador FTA (2026)
    Signed date
    24 / Jul / 2026
    Treaty type
    Other International Investment Agreements
    Origin language
    en
    Party ISO codes
    CAN,ECU
    Relationship with other documents
    Type Agreements Date of signature Date of entry in force
    IT_OVERLAP Andean Community - Canada Trade and Investment Cooperation Arrangement (1999) 31 / May / 1999 31 / May / 1999
    IT_OVERLAP Investment Facilitation for Development (2024)
    IT_OVERLAP Canada - Ecuador BIT (1996) 29 / Apr / 1996 06 / Jun / 1997
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