Argentina's new trade and investment deal with the United States “consolidates” the country’s “regional leadership,” said Cabinet Chief Manuel Adorni on Friday.
President Javier Milei’s government announced the previous day that it had put pen to paper on a "reciprocal" agreement with the Donald Trump administration that would open up Argentina’s markets to US products in exchange for tariff relief on exports.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno on Friday, Adorni described the deal as a “historic milestone” which he credited to the Milei administration’s “diplomatic efforts.”
“This agreement demonstrates and consolidates our regional leadership and is the result of this administration’s diplomatic efforts,” he continued, adding that it included “investment commitments” and would grant “preferential access to the North American market for many of our industries.”
The accord "consolidates the strategic bilateral relationship” between Buenos Aires and Washington and “includes the elimination of reciprocal tariffs on 1,675 products," stressed the official. “This means a new and enormous market for our companies of more than 350 million people, and more and better products for our consumers.”
Adorni said the agreement would be sent to Congress for approval and called on lawmakers to “take advantage of this historic opportunity for Argentines."
He did not confirm whether it would be sent to the Legislature during the ongoing extraordinary sessions, saying work was still needed before it would be ready for lawmakers.
The framework for a deal between the two allied governments was first announced back in November. Argentina was one of four countries in South and Central America, along with Ecuador, Guatemala and El Salvador, that struck deals with Washington.
This is the first in the region to be finalised.
Quirno travelled to Washington this week with a delegation to finalise the deal, which he officially announced on social media after inking a deal with US Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer.
Political jabs
Adorni and Quirno said the deal with the Trump administration is a direct consequence of Argentina’s foreign policy shift under President Milei.
Jabbing at the Peronist opposition, Adorni said the “governments of the self-perceived 'Patria Grande'” had led Argentina into “20 years of economic stagnation, lack of investment and increased poverty" thanks to protectionism, a position now reversed.
"Closed, we are weak; integrated, we are truly great,” declared the Cabinet chief.
“‘The agreement stems from a clear political decision by President Javier Milei, who, when he was a candidate, repeatedly stated that he wanted a strategic alliance with the United States,” agreed Quirno.
The deal “is not an isolated or circumstantial event, but the result of a consistent strategy, of a relationship built on trust and on serious, sustained preparation over time,” he added.
The La Libertad Avanza administration says the deal will see “reduction of tariffs and provides for the elimination or lowering of tariffs and regulatory barriers, granting the United States preferential access to key sectors such as machinery, technology, medical devices and pharmaceuticals.”
On agriculture, it establishes that “Argentina will allow the entry of live cattle and poultry from the United States, streamlining sanitary procedures, while both countries improve bilateral access for beef.”
Provincial benefits, Mercosur
Describing the deal as a win for all of Argentina’s provinces, Adorni said that improved access for domestic beef producers could see meat exports “increase fivefold,” benefitting livestock-producing regions such as Buenos Aires Province.
He noted that provinces such as "Formosa, Misiones, Chaco, Corrientes, and Entre Ríos will be able to export their forest products without tariff barriers," with “mining provinces such as Santa Cruz, San Juan, Mendoza, Jujuy, Salta and Catamarca” also benefitting.
“The opening of the US market to Argentine medicines and medical supplies enables high value-added exports and directly benefits provinces such as Córdoba and Santa Fe,” he added.
Quirno said the deal could have a knock-on effect for the Mercosur, with Argentina seeking “greater flexibility” for the regional trade trade bloc.,
"These are agreements that are permitted under the agreement with the participating Mercosur countries," Quirno explained during the press conference.
He contrasted the rapid closure of the agreement with the US with the EU-Mercosur trade deal.
"For various reasons, the European Union-Mercosur agreement took more than 25 years to be signed, and we are only now beginning the legislative approval process in Argentina," he complained, saying the deal with Washington “took a little over a year."
– TIMES/NA/PERFIL
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