Briefings & Statements

JOINT STATEMENT ON A FRAMEWORK FOR UNITED STATES-NORTH MACEDONIA AGREEMENT ON RECIPROCAL, FAIR, AND BALANCED TRADE

The White House

February 12, 2026

The United States of America (United States) and the Republic of North Macedonia (North Macedonia) have agreed to a Framework for an Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade (Agreement) to strengthen our bilateral economic relationship, which will provide both countries’ exporters expanded access to each other’s markets. The Agreement will strengthen our trade relationship, support shared strategic interests, promote economic growth, and deepen our transatlantic partnership.

Key terms of the Agreement will include:

• North Macedonia will eliminate customs duties for all U.S. industrial and agricultural goods exported to North Macedonia.

• The United States will maintain at 15 percent the reciprocal tariffs, as set forth in Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2005, as amended, on originating goods of North Macedonia, and will also identify products from the list set out in Annex III to Executive Order 14346 of September 5, 2025, Potential Tariff Adjustments for Aligned Partners, as amended, to receive a zero percent reciprocal tariff rate. The United States and North Macedonia may consider other tariff modifications following conclusion of the Agreement, taking into account trade balances and other appropriate factors.

• The United States and North Macedonia will work to address U.S. concerns with non-tariff barriers imposed by North Macedonia that affect bilateral trade in priority areas.

• The United States and North Macedonia commit to hold consultations to address and prevent barriers to U.S. agricultural products in the Macedonian market.

• 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 United States and North Macedonia note their intention to facilitate and enhance commercial ties.

• On energy sector opportunities, 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 purchases of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG). North

Macedonia will commence purchase of U.S. LNG upon completion of the new gas interconnector.

• North Macedonia commits to adopt and maintain high levels of environmental protections and to effectively enforce its environmental laws.

• The United States and North Macedonia will discuss commitments on intellectual property protection and enforcement, including on geographical indications.

• The United States and North Macedonia will engage to address labor issues.

• The United States and North Macedonia recognize the importance of high-standard commitments on digital trade in order to foster an open and competitive digital economy. North Macedonia has committed not to impose a digital service tax and to support adoption of a permanent moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions at the World Trade Organization (WTO).

• The United States and North Macedonia recognize the importance of facilitating trade in services. North Macedonia reaffirms its commitment to the WTO Joint Initiative on Services Domestic Regulation.

The United States and North Macedonia will work to finalize the Agreement, prepare the Agreement for signature, and undertake domestic formalities in advance of the Agreement entering into force.