The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has announced the trade levels of sugar and syrup products from several countries, which affect their eligibility for duty-free entry under various trade agreements. For the 2025 calendar year, Chile, Morocco, the Dominican Republic, and Peru have negative trade surpluses, meaning their goods cannot enter the U.S. duty-free. Meanwhile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Colombia, and Panama have varying positive trade surpluses and can export limited quantities to the U.S. without tariffs, based on predetermined quotas.
Simple Explanation
The U.S. government is deciding how much sugar and syrup products from different countries can come into the U.S. without charging extra fees. Some countries like Costa Rica and Guatemala can send a certain amount for free, but others like Chile and Peru can't because they have sent too much before.