Argentina, US amend trade deal in bid to secure ratification

Argentina and the United States have reached an agreement to amend a trade deal signed in February, with the aim of gaining approval from Argentina's legislature. Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer signed the amended protocol, which they announced on Wednesday. Quirno highlighted that the updated version would provide "predictability for Argentine exports to the US market" and facilitate President Javier Milei's government in presenting the trade deal to Congress for final endorsement.

Milei's advisors had previously informed the US administration that they lacked the necessary votes to ratify the agreement. The Argentine government also sought to renegotiate terms following the US Supreme Court's decision to invalidate Trump's global tariffs shortly after the deal was reached. The US published the contents of the revised agreement, which eliminated specific references to the reciprocal tariffs subject to the Supreme Court ruling.

The US Trade Representative expressed optimism about continuing to work with Argentina on the ratification and implementation of this significant deal. Quirno emphasized that the US had reaffirmed most-favoured-nation tariff treatment for Argentine products under the new protocols. He described the agreement as part of a "new-generation trade, financing, and investment agenda" between the two leaders, who have formed a close alliance as like-minded rulers over the past two years.