Client Alert: United States–Argentina Framework for an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade and Investment
International Trade & Customs Department Report | Client Alert: United States–Argentina Framework for an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade and Investment
Executive Summary
The United States and Argentina announced a framework for an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade and Investment to deepen bilateral commerce and investment while reinforcing commitments to open markets and democratic governance. The framework prioritizes targeted tariff liberalization, removal of non‑tariff barriers, standards alignment, stronger IP enforcement, expanded agricultural access, and labor, environmental, and economic ‑security coordination. If implemented, according to the parties, it would create a more transparent, predictable, and rules‑based environment for trade and innovation.
Key Provisions
Reciprocal tariff openings include preferential Argentine access for U.S. industrial and agricultural goods (e.g., medicines, chemicals, machinery, IT products, medical devices, motor vehicles). In parallel, the United States will remove tariffs on certain unavailable natural resources and non‑patented inputs for pharmaceutical uses, tied to Argentina’s reforms and supply ‑chain/economic‑security compliance. The United States may also consider the Agreement’s effect when taking action under Section 232. Both countries commit to improved reciprocal market access for beef.
Non‑tariff barriers will be reduced through dismantled import licensing (Argentina has already dismantled many non-tariff barriers that restricted access to its market), no consular formalities for U.S. exports, and a phaseout of Argentina’s statistical tax on U.S. goods. On standards and conformity assessment, Argentina will accept U.S. goods meeting applicable U.S. or international standards without duplicative requirements, including U.S.‑standard vehicles and recognition of FDA certificates and prior marketing authorizations for devices and pharmaceuticals.
Argentina will strengthen IP enforcement against counterfeiting and piracy, address Special 301 issues (patentability, backlog, geographical indications), and work toward international alignment.
Agricultural access will expand: Argentina has opened to U.S. live cattle, will allow U.S. poultry within one year, protect use of certain cheese/meat terms, simplify registrations for beef/offal/pork, and remove facility registration for U.S. dairy. The parties will also cooperate to reduce non‑tariff barriers in food and agriculture.
Labor and environment: Argentina will prohibit imports made with forced or compulsory labor and strengthen labor enforcement. Environmental measures include combating illegal logging, promoting resource efficiency (including in critical minerals), and fully implementing the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.
Economic security and digital trade: the parties will coordinate on export controls, investment screening, and anti‑evasion; cooperate on investment and trade in critical‑minerals and stabilizing global trade of soybeans; and address distortions from state‑owned enterprises and industrial subsidies. Argentina will recognize the United States as adequate for cross‑border data transfers, refrain from discriminating against U.S. digital services/products, and recognize e‑signatures valid under U.S. law.
The parties aim to finalize the text promptly and complete domestic procedures. Implementation will be reviewed under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement and the Innovation and Creativity Forum for Economic Development.
Sector Highlights
| Area | Practical Impact |
| Tariffs and market access | Preferential access in Argentina for U.S. industrial and agricultural goods; U.S. tariff removal on specified inputs for pharma applications; reciprocal improvements in beef market access. |
| Non-tariff barriers | Removal of import licensing constraints; elimination of consular formalities; phaseout of Argentina’s statistical tax on U.S. goods. |
| Standards and approvals | Acceptance of U.S./international standards; U.S.-standard vehicles admissible; FDA certificates and prior marketing authorizations recognized for devices and pharmaceuticals. |
| Intellectual property | Enhanced enforcement against counterfeiting and piracy; progress on patentability, backlog, and GIs; movement toward international alignment. |
| Agriculture | Access for U.S. live cattle; poultry access within one year; protection for certain cheese/meat terms; simplified registrations for beef, offal, pork; no facility registration for U.S. dairy. |
| Labor | Adoption and enforcement of an import ban on goods made with forced or compulsory labor; strengthened labor law enforcement. |
| Environment | Actions against illegal logging; resource efficiency measures including for critical minerals; implementation of WTO fisheries subsidies obligations. |
| Economic security | Coordination on export controls, investment screening, and anti‑evasion; cooperation against non‑market practices and harmful subsidies. |
| Digital trade | Adequacy finding for U.S. data transfers; non‑discrimination for U.S. digital services/products; mutual recognition of valid electronic signatures. |
What’s Next
The United States and Argentina announced that they will finalize (no specific date was established) the text of the Agreement for signature and undertake their respective domestic formalities in advance of the Agreement entering into force.