The United States and Macedonia have reached a Framework Agreement on reciprocal, fair, and balanced trade aimed at strengthening bilateral economic relations, which will provide exporters from both countries with expanded access to each other’s markets, the White House announced last night.
“The Agreement will strengthen our trade relations, support shared strategic interests, promote economic growth, and deepen our transatlantic partnership,” the joint statement said.
The key terms of the Agreement include:
• Macedonia will eliminate customs duties on all U.S. industrial and agricultural goods exported to the country.
• The United States will maintain reciprocal tariffs at 15 percent, as provided in Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2005, as amended, for goods originating in Macedonia. It will also identify products from the list set out in Annex 3 of Executive Order 14346 of September 5, 2025, Potential Adjustments of Tariffs for Aligned Partners, as amended, to receive a reciprocal tariff rate of zero percent. The United States and Macedonia may consider other tariff modifications following the conclusion of the Agreement, taking into account trade balances and other relevant factors.
• The United States and North Macedonia will work to address U.S. concerns regarding non-tariff barriers imposed by North Macedonia that affect bilateral trade in priority areas.
• The United States and Macedonia commit to holding consultations to resolve and prevent barriers to U.S. agricultural products in the Macedonian market.
• The United States and Macedonia committed to strengthening economic and national security cooperation to improve supply chain resilience and innovation through complementary activities to address non-market policies of other countries, as well as to combat duty evasion and cooperate in investment reviews and export controls. This commitment includes cooperation to ensure that international procurement obligations benefit only those countries that have undertaken the same obligations.
• The United States and Macedonia note their intention to facilitate and improve trade relations.
• Regarding opportunities in the energy sector, the United States and Macedonia take into account the construction of an important new gas interconnector between North Macedonia and Greece, which will enable Macedonia to improve energy security and diversify energy sources, including through the purchase of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG). Macedonia will begin purchasing U.S. LNG upon completion of the new gas interconnector.
• Macedonia commits to adopting and maintaining a high level of environmental protection and to effectively enforcing its environmental laws.
• The United States and Macedonia will discuss obligations for the protection and enforcement of intellectual property, including geographical indications.
• The United States and Macedonia will engage in addressing labor-related issues.
• The United States and Macedonia recognise the importance of high-standard digital trade commitments to foster an open and competitive digital economy. North Macedonia committed not to impose a digital services tax and to support the adoption of a permanent moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
• The United States and Macedonia recognise the importance of facilitating trade in services. Macedonia reaffirms its commitment to the WTO Joint Initiative on Services Domestic Regulation.
The United States and Macedonia will work toward finalising the Agreement, preparing it for signature, and undertaking the necessary domestic formalities before it enters into force, the White House statement said.
