WASHINGTON — To define it in TV series terms, the framework agreement between the United States and Argentina has gone through a long negotiation process. first chapter at the beginning of the yearwhen donald trump He returned to power in January. Subsequently game changer he April 2ndNorth American President global tariff warHe continued. multiple meetings in washington That led to Thursday’s announcement. “It’s a very good start.”evaluated nation A source familiar with the negotiations said: The ending has not yet been written: Chapter continues.
driven by The good harmony that President Trump and Javier Millay have already shownArgentine officials said Preferential agreement with the United StatesAnd from there, a dialogue began with government authorities in the capital. Trade Representative (USTR), in charge jamison greer.
But in the middle of that process – “It arrived very well.”he pointed. nation Another source with knowledge of the meeting – On April 2nd, so-called “Emancipation Day,” President Trump’s “trade bomb” was detonated.when it announced a reciprocal tariff strategy that disrupted global trade.
“At that moment, everything fell apart.”the person involved recalled. “We were negotiating a preferential contract; Suddenly a problem occurred. we needed 50 Addition of tariff positions (of Mercosur common external tariff) “To give more,” he recalled, which Argentina would later ultimately achieve. Support from Brazil At the bloc summit in Buenos Aires in July.
Argentine officials already knew there would be a strong announcement on reciprocal tariffs from the White House sometime in early April.
the next day, April 3rdwas the key to this movie. There are Official kick-off of the agreement. Prime Minister at the time Gerald Verteinwith Louis Kreckler, Secretary of International Economic Relations; They play an important role in this process as chief negotiator, other technical officials, and the embassy team conducting the negotiations. alec oxenford I met ~ in Washington glia,and US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnickand his team.
On the table, USTR book listing all tariff and non-tariff barriers by countryand the American authorities situation absolute condition to conclude an agreement with the United States.
Officials discussed each of these obstacles, when Mr. Gurría uttered a phrase that stuck with Argentine negotiators. “Facts, not promises”he said to them. With more or less words, the North American Trade Representative asked them to analyze what was written on the pages of the book. I came back with the necessary modifications to proceed with the contract..
The meeting at USTR headquarters ended abruptly just before adjournment. The building was forced to be evacuated due to a bomb threat.recalled a conference attendee. “It was very interesting back then,” he added.
10 days later, Argentine negotiators fulfilled Mr. Gurría’s demands and returned to Washington.. Mormons who are Republican officials Tough negotiator but very correct.
In total, 7 negotiations and about 20 working sessionsThis included several officials and technical teams from embassies in Buenos Aires and Washington. They said it was an effective negotiation and never stopped.
Director of Production Coordination; Pablo Lavignewas one of the regular participants at the conference, with specific teams from each aspect of the agreement discussed on the North American side. “Digital commerce was one device, auto parts another, intellectual property another, and so on, issue after issue,” one participant said, reflecting on the complexity of the negotiations.
He is also the Under-Secretary of Foreign Economy and Trade. Carolina CuencaCommissioner of Deregulation; alejandro cacaceand participated in the Argentina team.
What was the most difficult part of this whole process? “Everything. Word by word, paragraph by paragraph…it wasn’t easy.”he said. nation “Negotiator”These agreements combine two laws (United States and Argentina).and at the same time Bills enacted by Democrats and RepublicansTherefore, sometimes what was written did not reflect what was required and had to be written again… It was troublesome, very troublesome.” he emphasized.
of “Joint Declaration on Trade and Investment Framework Agreement”What the White House presented Thursday had been in the works for weeks, various officials acknowledged. but Announcement was delayed due to various circumstances. timing political From the United States itself and the noise generated by financial aid to the government from the Treasury. It remained to define, in Oxenford’s words, “the appropriate moment to say and convey a courtesy between the parties.”
The moment came Thursday around 4:15 p.m. Pablo Kirno He was meeting with the Secretary of State, marco rubio. Paradoxically, the officials could not have known at the exact moment of the announcement because they were under strict State Department measures and did not have cell phones or other electronic devices in hand. They watched him leave the meeting with Rubio.
On Wednesday, the head of the San Martin Palace and his entourage met with Mr. Gurría and together they finished polishing the palace. “The last detail” -always under strict confidentiality agreements-. They left USTR headquarters with confirmation that the White House would announce the framework agreement the next day..
Amid dozens of parallel negotiations with other countries, finding the right timing for each announcement was a puzzle for the United States.
“At one point Argentina was the most advanced country. We were working very quietly.”the official emphasized. “But a lot of things happened along the way, and the US announced the UK as a priority, then the Southeast Asia region,” he said.
Now my expectations are high What are the next steps for the deal? -Framed Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) – And even more so if the trade alliance between the United States and Argentina is likely to expand next year.
officials familiar with the agreement said. nation it starts now National internal processes regarding legal matters text translation, etc. It will take 2-3 weeks to be ready for signing.. What is expected is Trump and Miley sign in WashingtonHowever, there has been no official confirmation of a possible presidential visit.
Effectivity of certain clauses or paragraphs May require parliamentary approval in both countriesBut officials declined to elaborate on which ones. Other aspects may require executive orders from President Trump, for example..
“All this depends on each country’s domestic legal order. And this is the stage we are at now,” said a person familiar with the deal.
Some issues require legislative changes, others require the ratification of international treaties that must be passed by Congress, and others are of an administrative nature that can be done by the executive branch. In government they said they would “A lot of work needs to be done in terms of implementation.” He said there was a need to work on explaining the scope of the agreement.
Contents of the framework agreement ～A wonderful work that everyone expects～ It is kept secret until it is signed by the president and made public..
“Once the signature is complete, This agreement would already include a provisional scope.So some things could start to apply,” one of the sources said. It doesn’t end with this signature.. open here New areas for broader agreement negotiations. And I would say that both the United States and Argentina want that and could start working on it next year. ”he added, but stressed that he was watching. “complicated” Possibility of free trade agreements (FTAs).
“This is a step on the long road towards an FTA.”Meanwhile, another official involved in the negotiations from the first moment was enthusiastic. he Agreement on mutual trade and investment Putting Argentina (known in Washington by its English acronym ARTI) as a priority, they stress and operate as follows: “shield” For future ups and downs regarding trade issues with the United States.
In this sense, another person who attended the meeting emphasized that: “Relationships are not static” and processes “become dynamic”and deepen trade agreements That depends on how the political situation in the US and Argentina continues.
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