On September 4, 2025 U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to Quito, Ecuador where he engaged in talks with President Daniel Noboa to discuss issues of importance from bilateral relations between the two countries to security. After sitting down with President Noboa, Secretary Rubio addressed reporters in a joint press conference with Foreign Minister of Ecuador Gabriela Sommerfeld.
Minister Sommerfeld stated that when discussing the issue of security, President Noboa, members of his cabinet, Secretary Rubio agreed that the two governments must “work jointly in terms of security to be able to have a higher control in drug trafficking routes that affect our nations and to fight against money laundering through information exchange support, technological equipment support, working on borders, working against illegal mining.”
Rubio echoed this sentiment of security.
But discussions were not merely security in nature but also regarding the issue of economics, which is something Marco Rubio emphasized.
“That’s not the only focus of our relationship. We wish to have a broad relationship – an economic relationship,” Rubio said in his address to members of the press. He indicated that economic ties are essential for the future.
After a series of executive orders signed by President Donald J. Trump in April 2025 that imposed a minimum tariff of 10% on all U.S. imports (with some exemptions), Ecuador’s tariff rate increased to 15% on August 7, 2025 as reported by the Congressional Research Service (CRS).
Tariff negotiations have been ongoing with several countries, and in the case of Ecuador, negotiations of a trade deal appear near with Rubio stating how “our economies are very compatible.” Rubio appeared very optimistic about economic relations with Ecuador and future congressional discussion regarding U.S. policies relating to Ecuador.
“I don’t negotiate trade deals but I follow them very closely, and I know where we are on it, and we feel very positive about that,” Marco Rubio concluded.
