Export to Uruguay

Export to Uruguay: a 2026 guide for US manufacturers

5 min read · Updated 2026-09-26 · By the Fromerica team

Uruguay has a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with the United States but no free trade agreement, so Mercosur’s common external tariff applies. This guide covers the documents your buyer needs and Uruguay’s free zones.

Trade relationship

The United States and Uruguay signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) on January 25, 2007, creating a bilateral council; it is not a free trade agreement. As a Mercosur member, Uruguay applies the Mercosur Common Nomenclature and Common External Tariff.

Documents and import rules

Commercial invoice with product description, quantity, unit price, total value, Incoterms, contact details and country of origin; packing list; bill of lading or air waybill.
Certificate of origin for product-specific licensing and approvals; sanitary or phytosanitary certificates from USDA, FDA or APHIS for food, animal, agricultural or plant products.
The importer files the Documento Único Aduanero (DUA) through a licensed customs broker. Motor vehicles, textiles and steel, among others, need non-automatic import licenses before clearance.
Consumer products must carry Spanish labels with product name, ingredients, origin, net content and manufacturer or importer details.

Free zones

According to Uruguay’s Ministry of Economy and Finance, goods entering a free zone are exempt from all import taxes, and can leave for abroad tax-free; they pay the applicable taxes only when they enter the rest of Uruguay. Buyers who redistribute regionally may prefer this route.

US-side steps for every shipment

Classify the product with its 10-digit Schedule B number (Census Bureau search tool); the first 6 digits are the Harmonized System code your buyer uses for their own tariff.
File Electronic Export Information (EEI) in AES, through ACE AESDirect or a direct connection, when the value under an individual Schedule B number is over $2,500 or an export license is required. The USPPI or its authorized agent files it.
Check your export classification. According to BIS, items subject to the EAR that are not listed on the Commerce Control List are EAR99 and, in most situations, need no license, unless they go to a restricted end user, end use or destination.
Screen your buyer, consignee and end user against the Consolidated Screening List, which combines export screening lists of the Departments of Commerce, State and the Treasury.

Screen a buyer →Guide: how to export from the USA →Look up HTS codes →

Frequently asked questions

Does Uruguay have a free trade agreement with the US?

No. It has a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (2007). Mercosur’s common external tariff applies.

Do products need Spanish labels in Uruguay?

Yes. According to the International Trade Administration, consumer products must include Spanish-language labels.

Official sources

This page is general information to help you get started. It is not legal, tax or customs advice, and regulations change. Confirm current requirements with the official sources above or with a licensed customs broker, freight forwarder or trade compliance professional.