In the late 1990s the Andean Community undertook steps to enhance trade relations with the Central American countries.

Colombia and the Northern Triangle countries -- El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras -- initiated negotiations towards a free trade agreement in June 2006. The framework and timing, set out in a document regarding negotiations between Colombia and Guatemala, states that there should be six negotiating rounds and that the negotiations should conclude within a year.

The negotiations were concluded on 16 March 2007 after six rounds of negotiations and two meetings of the working groups on market access. On 9 August 2007 Colombia and El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras signed the agreement.

Documents relating to the negotiations
09 August 2007	Medellin, Colombia. Colombia and the Northern Triangle countries sign FTA
16 March 2007	Sonsonate, El Salvador. Colombia-Northern Triangle FTA negotiations ended
19-23 February 2007	Medellin, Colombia. Meeting to continue Colombia-Northern Triangle FTA negotiations
08 December 2006	Antigua, Guatemala. Round 6 of Colombia-Northern Triangle FTA negotiations
03 November 2006	San Salvador, El Salvador. Round 5 of Colombia-Northern Triangle FTA negotiations
22-29 September 2006	Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Round 4 of Colombia-Northern Triangle FTA negotiations
11 September 2006	Colombia: Nonconforming measures, services and investment Annex I Annex 2 Annex 3
30 August 2006	Colombia: interests in the negotiations: Government Procurement Investment Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Rules of Origin Technical Barriers to Trade Institutional Aspects Trade Facilitation Agriculture Services Non-agricultural Market Access Trade Defense Measures
18 August 2006	Medellín, Colombia. Round 3 of Colombia-Northern Triangle FTA negotiations
11-14 July 2006	Guatemala City, Guatemala. Round 2 of Colombia-Northern Triangle FTA negotiations
05 June 2006	Colombia and Guatemala sign Investment promotion and protection agreement
05-09 June 2006	Bogotá, Colombia. Round 1 of Colombia-Northern Triangle FTA negotiations
June 2006	General Framework for a free trade agreement between Guatemala and Colombia
Source: Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo, República de Colombia; Ministerio de Economía de El Salvador

The Government of Colombia forwarded the agreement to the Senate on 20 February 2008. The Colombian Senate and House Commissions and the Colombia House of Representatives approved the agreement on 7 May 2008 and 4 June 2008 respectively.

El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly approved the free trade agreement on 21 August 2008. Meanwhile, the Congress of Guatemala ratified the FTA by Decree 32-2009.

On 13 November 2009, the free trade agreement between Colombia and Guatemala entered into force.

The Free Trade Agreement between Colombia and El Salvador entered into force on 01 February 2010.

On 27 March 2010, the Free Trade Agreement between Colombia and Honduras entered into force on 27 March 2010.

Documents relating to the entry into force
27 March 2010	The FTA between Colombia and Honduras entered into force
01 February 2010	The FTA between Colombia and El Salvador entered into force
13 November 2009	The FTA between Colombia and Guatemala entered into force
September 2009	Guatemala's Congress ratifies FTA
21 August 2008	El Salvador's Legislative Assembly approves FTA
04 June 2008	Colombian House of Representatives approves FTA
07 May 2008	Colombian Senate and House Commissions approve FTA
20 February 2008	Colombia forwards text of the agreement to the Senate
Source: Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo, República de Colombia

Article 17.1 of the agreement establishes the Administrative Commission comprised by ministerial-level representatives of the Parties to oversee the implementation and operation of the agreement.

Three meetings of the Administrative Commission of the Colombia-Northern Triangle FTA have taken place since the entry into force of the agreement. During the third one, held in August 2015, the parties made progress towards an expanded free trade agreement.

On November 5, 2018, Colombia and Guatemala widened their FTA to include products from the textile and clothing sector. The Modifying Protocol for the creation of the Bilateral Input Integration Committee and the Administrative Cooperation Agreement on the Verification of Origin of the Northern Triangle of Central America and Colombia with the European Union were also signed.

Documents relating to the FTA Administrative Commission
05 November 2018	Guatemala City, Guatemala. Colombia and Guatemala widen their FTA
02 November 2018	Decision Nº 16 of the Administrative Commission
27 August 2015	Bogota, Colombia. Third meeting of the Administrative  Commission of the Colombia-Northern Triangle FTA: countries make progress towards an expanded free trade agreement:
26 August 2015	Decision Nº 15 of the Administrative Commission
26 August 2015	Decision Nº 14 of the Administrative Commission
12 February 2015	Decision Nº 13 of the Administrative Commission
28 July 2011	Decision Nº 12 of the Administrative Commission
28 July 2011	Decision Nº 11 of the Administrative Commission
28 July 2011	Decision Nº 10 of the Administrative Commission
28 July 2011	Decision Nº 9 of the Administrative Commission
28 July 2011	Decision Nº 8 of the Administrative Commission
28 July 2011	Decision Nº 7 of the Administrative Commission
28 July 2011	Decision Nº 6 of the Administrative Commission
28 July 2011	San Salvador, El Salvador . Second meeting of the Administrative Commission of the Colombia-Northern Triangle FTA
23 July 2010	Decision Nº 5 of the Administrative Commission
23 July 2010	Decision Nº 4 of the Administrative Commission
23 July 2010	Decision Nº 3 of the Administrative Commission
23 July 2010	Decision Nº 2 of the Administrative Commission
23 July 2010	Decision Nº 1 of the Administrative Commission
22-23 July 2010	Guatemala City, Guatemala. First meeting of the Administrative  Commission of the Colombia-Northern Triangle FTA
Source: Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo, República de Colombia; Ministerio de Economía de El Salvador, Ministerio de Economía, Guatemala

• Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo, República de Colombia
• Ministerio de Economía, El Salvador
• Ministerio de Economía, Guatemala