The U.S. and Argentina signed Feb. 5 an agreement on reciprocal trade and investment first announced last November. According to information from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, this agreement includes the following provisions.
Agriculture. Argentina will allow access for U.S. poultry and poultry products within one year and will simplify red tape for U.S. exporters of beef, beef products, pork, and pork products.
The U.S. issued a presidential proclamation that will expand the 2026 tariff-rate quota for beef by 80,000 metric tons, allocate this entire amount to Argentina, and limit the increase to lean beef trimmings classified under HTSUS 0201.30.5085 and 0202.30.5085.
Cooperation. Under this agreement, if the U.S. adopts a border measure or other trade action and considers that it is relevant to protecting U.S. economic or national security, Argentina, when appropriate, will adopt a measure with similar effect. Argentina is also required to adopt and implement measures to address unfair trade practices of companies owned or controlled by third countries operating in Argentina’s jurisdiction.
Further, Argentina has committed to (1) work with the U.S. on deeper economic security cooperation, including on combatting unfair trade practices of third countries, export controls, investment security, and protecting the integrity of information and communications technology infrastructure, and (2) enter into a duty evasion cooperation agreement within 60 days.
Customs. Argentina will remove its consularization requirements for U.S. goods and will no longer prohibit express carriers from becoming authorized economic operators. Argentina will also permit monthly payment for express carriers and implement full pre-arrival processing while protecting the data submitted to its single window.
Digital trade. Argentina has committed (1) to recognize the U.S. as an adequate jurisdiction under Argentine law for the cross-border transfer of data, including personal data, (2) not to impose customs duties on electronic transmissions or digital services taxes, and (3) not to discriminate against U.S. digital services or digital products.
IPR. Argentina (1) will continue to improve enforcement against counterfeit and pirated goods, including in the online environment, (2) has committed to address structural challenges cited in USTR’s 2025 Special 301 report, including patentability criteria, patent backlog, and geographical indications, and (3) will work toward aligning its intellectual property regime with international standards.
Labor. Argentina will adopt and implement a prohibition on the importation of goods produced by forced or compulsory labor and strengthen its protections for internationally-recognized labor rights.
Standards. Argentina will allow U.S. companies to use U.S. or international standards for imports of goods made in the U.S. without extra conformity assessment requirements or burdensome regulation.
Tariffs. Argentina will lower tariffs on hundreds of U.S. goods exports, including certain medicines, chemicals, machinery, information technologies products, medical devices, motor vehicles, and a wide range of agricultural products.
The U.S. will remove its reciprocal tariff on certain unavailable natural resources and non-patented articles for use in pharmaceutical applications and cap its reciprocal tariff on other imports from Argentina at the current level of ten percent.
Copyright © 2026 Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A.; WorldTrade Interactive, Inc. All rights reserved.