Argentina has reportedly reached a broad understanding with the US government on a reciprocal zero-tariff trade deal, according to local media citing officials in President Javier Milei’s administration. If formally announced and implemented, the arrangement would allow most Argentine exports to enter the US market without import duties, marking a significant shift in bilateral trade relations.
What the reported deal includes
According to the report, the Argentine government has already prepared a list of 100 products that would be able to enter the United States tax-free. The reported framework would apply to as much as 80% of Argentina’s exports to the US. However, raw materials such as steel and aluminum are said to be excluded from the zero-tariff treatment.
The development is being interpreted as a sign that Washington wants to elevate Argentina as a key commercial partner in the region. The report links that possibility to the ideological and political alignment between President Milei and President Trump, suggesting that the trade arrangement could also serve a broader geopolitical purpose beyond market access alone.
Announcement said to be delayed
While the main terms are reportedly already agreed, the public announcement has been put on hold. Trump is still reviewing additional tariff measures on other countries ahead of August 1, when those tariffs are set to take effect. Local media say the goal is to later present the Argentina agreement as an exemplary case in the region under the broader US tariff strategy.
The reported treatment of Argentina stands in sharp contrast to recent US actions toward other countries. Brazil, for example, was assigned a 50% tariff regime, with the report citing alleged due process violations in the case against former President Jair Bolsonaro and censorship orders targeting social media platforms. More broadly, the US has already imposed unilateral tariffs on more than 20 countries, ranging from 10% to 50%. Major partners such as the European Union have also yet to secure agreements that would shield them from tougher tariff regimes.
For now, the Argentina-US arrangement remains at the level of press reporting and unnamed official sourcing, pending formal confirmation. Still, if the deal is officially unveiled, it would likely strengthen Argentina’s standing in US trade policy and underscore Washington’s increasingly differentiated approach to tariffs across countries.