Yesterday, November 13, 2025, the governments of the Argentine Republic and the United States of America announced the signing of an agreement called “Framework for an agreement between the United States and Argentina on reciprocal trade and investment” which, according to the Argentine Foreign Minister, creates the conditions for increased U.S. investment in Argentina and includes tariff reductions for key industries, thereby increasing bilateral trade between the two countries.
The U.S. government issued a statement asserting that the agreement reaffirms the strategic alliance between the United States of America and the Argentine Republic based on shared democratic values and a common vision of free enterprise, private initiative, and open markets, and that the goal is a stronger and more balanced economic partnership to promote long-term growth, expand opportunities, and create a transparent, rules-based environment for trade and innovation.
The statement reports that the key elements of the agreement will include:
1- Tariffs:
Both countries will open their markets to key products.
Argentina will offer preferential market access for US exports, including certain medicines, chemicals, machinery, information technology, medical devices, vehicles, and a variety of agricultural products.
The United States will eliminate reciprocal tariffs on certain unavailable natural resources and non-patented items for use in pharmaceutical applications, favorably evaluating the Argentine Republic under national security criteria (Section 232).
Both countries commit to improve bilateral and reciprocal access conditions for beef trade.
2- Removal of non-tariff barriers:
Argentina commits to not requiring consular formalities for U.S. exports to Argentina.
Argentina will gradually eliminate the statistical fee tax on U.S. goods.
3- Standards and conformity assessment:
Argentina is adapting to international standards in key sectors to facilitate trade.
Argentina will allow the entry of US goods that comply with applicable US or international standards, as well as technical regulations or assessment procedures adopted by the US or international bodies, without requiring additional assessments, and will continue to remove non-tariff barriers in priority sectors.
In addition, it will accept imports of U.S. vehicles manufactured in accordance with Federal Safety and Emissions Standards, as well as U.S. FDA certificates and prior approvals for medical devices and pharmaceutical products.
4- Intellectual property:
Argentina will continue to improve control over counterfeit and pirated products, including in the digital sphere.
It also committed to addressing structural challenges identified in the U.S. Trade Representative’s “Special 301 of 2025” report, such as patentability criteria, patent accumulation, and geographical indications, and to advancing the alignment of its intellectual property regime with international standards.
5- Access to the agricultural market:
Argentina will open its market to US live cattle, commits to opening access for poultry meat within one year, and agrees not to restrict access to products that use certain terms for cheese and meat.
Argentina will simplify registration processes for U.S. beef, beef products, offal, and pork, and will not require plant registration for dairy imports.
Both countries will collaborate on the elimination of non-tariff barriers affecting food and agricultural trade.
6- Labor:
Argentina reaffirms its commitment to protect internationally recognized labor rights. In addition, it will adopt and enforce a ban on the importation of goods produced through forced or compulsory labor and will strengthen the enforcement of labor laws.
7- Environment:
Argentina commits to taking additional measures against illegal logging; promoting a more resource-efficient economy, including in the critical minerals sector; and fully complying with its obligations under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.
8- Alignment on economic security:
Argentina will deepen cooperation with the United States to combat non-market policies and practices from other countries. Both countries will identify tools to coordinate approaches to export controls, investment security, tariff evasion, and other relevant issues.
9- Trade considerations and opportunities:
The countries will collaborate to facilitate investment and trade in critical minerals. In addition, they agree to work toward stabilizing global soybean trade.
10- State-owned enterprises and subsidies:
Argentina committed to addressing potential distortions created by state-owned enterprises and to resolving industrial subsidies that may affect the bilateral trade relationship.
11- Digital trade:
Argentina commits to facilitating digital trade with the United States by recognizing it as an adequate jurisdiction under Argentine law for cross-border data transfers, including personal data, and to not discriminating against U.S.-origin digital services or products. It also plans to accept, under its legislation, electronic signatures that are valid under U.S. law.
The White House explained that the United States and Argentina “will work quickly to finalize the text of the agreement with a view to signing it and complying with each country’s internal procedures before it enters into force.”
It was also agreed that “both countries will review the implementation of the Agreement and maintain close coordination on trade and investment issues through the Framework Agreement on Trade and Investment, as well as the Forum on Innovation and Creativity for Economic Development.”
What has been agreed to date by both governments, while of great importance, is only the framework of the agreement on reciprocal trade and investment that is to be signed. Once it enters into force, its actual scope and legal and economic impact will need to be analyzed in depth and detail.
This publication does not constitute legal advice on specific matters. If necessary, specialized legal advice should be sought.
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