The brand new trade deal between Donald Trump and Javier Millay has sparked a heated debate in Buenos Aires’ diplomatic and business circles. From Casa Rosada it was presented as “.Historic progress in strategic integration with the United StatesAccording to “, a detailed analysis of the draft revealed significant imbalances. The United States would receive 14 specific benefits, while Argentina would receive only one, with six reciprocal commitments whose scope remains undefined.
The agreement, expected to be signed in Washington in the coming weeks, means the Argentine market will be largely opened up to virtually all U.S. products, from medicines to machinery to technology to automobiles to food. However, according to diplomatic sources interviewed, i professionaland also assume that: Argentina accepts US technology, regulatory and intellectual property standardswhich could turn the country into a “place of no defence” for local industry.
“Whatever is approved in the United States goes here without discussion.”” he explained i professional A diplomat who directly intervenes in negotiations. As a practical matter, Argentina has waived the requirement for an independent technical assessment. If the FDA, Department of Agriculture, or a North American government agency certifies a product, it will be placed on the Argentine market without any additional requirements.
this is, force national regulations Sensitive fields such as food, medicine, and industrial technology. Experts warned that the measures could also encourage the entry of cheaper or subsidized products, impacting small businesses and local industries that cannot withstand such competitive conditions.
One of the most controversial points is that Import ban obligation of goods produced byforced labor‘ effectively acts as a veto right for the country of origin over the product. China. For American diplomacy, it is a strategic tool. For Argentina’s economy, it could mean tensions with key trading partners.
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On a positive note, the government has ensured that the United States will eliminate reciprocal tariffs on certain natural resources, such as aluminium, iron, hydrocarbons, timber, and agricultural products, and that improved access to Argentine meat, one of the sector’s historic demands, will be granted.
But Foreign Ministry officials cautioned that so far there is no official list of items. “All agreements remain on paper. What is not written does not exist,” said one veteran negotiator. He also added an important fact. Even if President Trump were to lower tariffs, the decision would have to be approved by the U.S. Congress, which has not delegated such authority to the president.
Currently, the only concrete thing is the numerical imbalance. There are 14 opening commitments and benefits to Washington, one to Buenos Aires, and six reciprocal points without technical specifications.
14 Benefits for the United States and Commitments Argentina Undertakes:
1. Priority access to the Argentine market for industrial, pharmaceutical, technological, automotive and agricultural products. That would be for electric car. China said it imported 50,000 cars last year, and the US imported 15,000 cars.
2. Phasing out statistical fees and ending consular procedures Imported from the US. The United States wants to eliminate all obstacles, stamps, certificates, and tariffs, but has not committed to doing so.
3. Products that meet US technical standards will be automatically registered without local requirements. Argentina intends to standardize everything regulated in the United States, but has not committed to standardizing Argentina’s regulations.
4. Argentina must align its patent laws with U.S. and international standards. you must repeal regulatory laws; Comply with the International Patent Cooperation Treaty0.
5. Opening local markets to American meat and poultry. However, they have not promised to open it in the same way except for quotas and fees.
6. Simplifying North American Meat and Dairy Records. No one should go from Senasa. To regulate imports from the United States.
7. Import ban related to forced labor, affecting purchases from China. This may increase tensions with China as imports from China will be restricted.
8. Environmental measures in line with US policy Logging, critical minerals, and fishing regulations. On all three issues, China is falling short, and no one is doing anything to stop it. He also scored a goal against China.
9. Cooperation to prevent “non-market” policies of third countries. Refers to China, which has state-owned enterprises controlled by the Chinese state.
10. Subsidies and state-owned enterprise controls that can distort bilateral trade. The United States also aims to deactivate China’s giant corporations, which are state-owned enterprises.
11. Recognition of the United States as an appropriate jurisdiction for digital data flows, avoiding any restrictions on North American technology companies. The US says data should cross borders, and China says it shouldn’t. I was able to do it too Giving North American companies an edge Percentage of data usage within the country.
12. Acceptance signature electronic It is regulated in the US. There is no need for reciprocity either.
13. Automatic entry of U.S. vehicles in compliance with federal regulations. approved Vehicles from the US without reciprocity.
14. Automated validation of FDA certificates without validation of ANMAT or Senasa certificates.
The only tangible advantage for Argentina
The United States will eliminate reciprocal tariffs on certain natural resources and unpatented medicines. This is said to include steel and aluminum, but the full list will only be made public upon final signing, but Millais officials say the list is very extensive and includes more than 100 products, including food, crude oil, tea, wood and meat, among others.
Mutual commitment: 6 titles, no technical accuracy:
1. Mutual opening of markets for “key products” (not defined). This was subject to agreement and was not reported.
2. Improving mutual access to meat markets. The United States has export quotas, but Argentina does not, so it is unequal.
3. Harmonization of approaches in export control and investment security. Expression of goodwill.
4. Collaboration on non-tariff barriers to food. Don’t go beyond the statement.
5. Cooperation in trade and investment in critical minerals. The US wants this Excluding China from rare earth development and trade And for this purpose, an investment system for large-scale investments is necessary (RIGI)
6. Cooperation to stabilize the global soybean market. It may be a kind of market segmentation.
Treaty that could reshape Argentina’s economy
The agreement is presented as a geopolitical leap towards a strategic alliance with Washington.n.However, the economic, production and regulatory costs have been strongly questioned by diplomats, businessmen and trade experts.
Argentina wants to accelerate harmonization with the Trump administration, giving up broad regulatory leeway and opening its market without equal guarantees.
The final terms, which have not yet been made public, will define whether the deal marks a turning point toward benign integration or, as critics claim, a unilateral concession that will expose the domestic industry to some of the world’s toughest competition.
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