ACHIEVING RECIPROCAL TRADE: Today, President Donald J. Trump announced a trade deal that will provide Americans with more certain and streamlined market access in North Macedonia. The United States and the Republic of North Macedonia (North Macedonia) agreed to a Framework for negotiating an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, which will provide American exporters unprecedented access to North Macedonia’s market while bolstering U.S. national and economic security.
- The Framework for an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade will enable U.S. farmers, ranchers, fishers, and manufacturers to increase U.S. exports, expand business opportunities, and help reduce the goods trade deficit with North Macedonia.
- U.S. goods and services trade with North Macedonia reached $433 million in 2024, and this agreement will facilitate increased opportunities for U.S. exporters.
GROUNDBREAKING TERMS: This Framework will expand preferential market access for America’s industrial and agricultural exporters will lower non-tariff barriers. The key terms of the U.S.-North Macedonia Agreement on Reciprocal Trade will include:
- Removing Tariff Barriers: North Macedonia will eliminate customs duties for all U.S. industrial and agricultural goods exported to North Macedonia, which will create commercially meaningful market access opportunities for the full range of U.S. exports, supporting high-quality American jobs.
- Breaking Down Non-Tariff Barriers for U.S. Industrial Exports: North Macedonia will address U.S. concerns with non-tariff barriers imposed by North Macedonia that affect bilateral trade in priority areas.
- Breaking Down Non-Tariff Barriers for U.S. Agriculture Exports: North Macedonia will address and prevent barriers to U.S. agricultural products in the Macedonian market.
- Preventing Barriers for Digital Trade: The United States and North Macedonia will continue to finalize commitments on digital trade to foster an open and competitive digital economy. North Macedonia has committed not to impose a digital services tax and to support adoption of a permanent moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions at the World Trade Organization (WTO).
- Improving Labor Standards: North Macedonia has committed to protecting internationally recognized labor rights and prohibiting the importation of goods produced by forced or compulsory labor.
- Strengthening Economic Security Alignment: The United States and North Macedonia have committed to strengthen economic and national security cooperation to enhance supply chain resilience and innovation through complementary actions to address non-market policies of other countries, as well as to combat duty evasion and cooperate on investment reviews and export controls. This commitment includes cooperating to ensure that international procurement obligations benefit only those countries that have taken on the same commitments.
THE PROSPEROUS PATH FORWARD: In the coming weeks, the United States and North Macedonia will work to finalize the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade to lock in benefits for American businesses and workers.
- Given North Macedonia’s commitment to take significant steps to advance a stronger and more reciprocal trade relationship, the United States will remove the reciprocal tariffs on North Macedonia’s exports to the United States for certain qualifying exports that cannot be grown, mined, or naturally produced in the United States in sufficient quantities.
- The United States and North Macedonia take note of the construction of an important new gas interconnector between North Macedonia and Greece, which will allow North Macedonia to enhance energy security and diversify energy sources, including through increased purchases of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG).
LIBERATING AMERICA FROM UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES: On April 2, President Trump declared a national emergency in response to the large and persistent U.S. trade deficit caused by a lack of reciprocity in our bilateral trade relationships, unfair tariff and non-tariff barriers, and U.S. trading partners’ economic policies that suppress domestic wages and consumption.
- President Trump continues to advance the interests of the American people and our agricultural sector by removing tariff and non-tariff barriers and expanding market access for American exporters.
- Today’s announcement provides a tangible path forward with North Macedonia that underscores the President’s dedication to bringing balanced, reciprocal trade with a reliable trading partner in Europe.
