On February 5, 2026, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced that the United States and The Argentine Republic have signed the U.S.-Argentina Agreement on Reciprocal Trade and Investment (Agreement). According to Ambassador Jamieson Greer, the USTR, the Agreement serves “as a model of how countries in the Americas, from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, can advance our shared ambitions and safeguard our economic and national security.” He added that the agreement “lowers long-standing trade barriers and provides significant market access for American exporters, ranging from motor vehicles to a wide array of agricultural products.” The United States and Argentina had previously entered a framework agreement to negotiate details on this Agreement. For additional information, see Thompson Hine Update of November 18, 2025.
The Agreement will fully enter into force sixty (60) days after the date on which both countries provide notification of the completion of their respective applicable legal procedures, or on such other date as the parties may decide. The Agreement follows closely the scope of the framework agreement:
- The United States will apply a revised reciprocal tariff rate on certain originating goods from Argentina as set forth by their Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheadings under Schedule 2 to Annex I of the Agreement that covers hundreds of agricultural and industrial items. On several items, the reciprocal tariff rate will be zero.
- Argentina will apply revised customs duties on certain goods originating from the United States as set forth by their HTSUS subheadings under Schedule 1 to Annex I.
- Argentina has committed to either eliminating its import licensing or applying automatic import licensing for U.S.-origin goods.
- Argentina will allow U.S. originating goods that comply with applicable U.S. or international standards, U.S. technical regulations, or U.S. or international conformity assessment procedures to enter its territory without additional conformity assessment requirements.
- Argentina will ensure that technical regulations, standards, and conformity assessment procedures are applied in a non-discriminatory manner and do not operate as disguised restrictions on bilateral trade, and shall remove existing technical barriers to trade in areas that undermine reciprocity, including requirements for duplicative or unnecessary testing or conformity assessment.
- Argentina will provide non-discriminatory or preferential market access for U.S. agricultural goods as detailed in the Agreement. This includes not restricting U.S. market access “due to the mere use of the individual cheese and meat terms” listed in Annex II of the Agreement.
- Argentina has agreed to implement a robust standard for intellectual property protection and enforcement.
- Argentina has agreed to protect internationally recognized labor rights. In doing so, the country will prohibit the importation of goods produced by forced or compulsory labor and strengthen its labor laws and their enforcement.
- Argentina has agreed to adopt, maintain and enforce environmental protection laws, and to uphold or institute strong environmental governance structures.
- Argentina has agreed not to impose digital services taxes, or similar taxes, that discriminate against U.S. companies.
Under the Agreement, Argentina will adopt and implement measures to address unfair trade practices of companies owned or controlled by third countries operating in Argentina’s jurisdiction. Argentina will also coordinate with the United States on export control goals and efforts and enhancing Argentina’s regulation and enforcement regarding trade in national security-sensitive technologies and goods.