Argentina, U.S. Sign Trade Pact Boosting Agriculture, Critical Minerals Access
Argentina's Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno signs landmark trade deal in Washington with USTR officials. Pact expands market access for ag and tech goods.
On February 5, 2026, Argentina's Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno and senior U.S. trade officials signed a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement in Washington, marking a major step in economic relations between the two countries. The deal matters as it expands agricultural and industrial market access, promotes investment in critical minerals, and strengthens Argentina's position as a strategic ally to the U.S. in Latin America.
El acuerdo se formalizó en la sede de la Oficina del Representante Comercial de Estados Unidos (USTR) , donde Quirno firmó el documento junto con Jamieson Greer , un alto funcionario comercial de la administración Trump . El acuerdo se produce tras meses de negociación y refleja la creciente alineación económica y política entre el presidente Javier Milei y el expresidente Donald Trump .
Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno and senior Argentine officials were in Washington to formalize the Argentina-U.S. trade deal, highlighting the high-level delegation involved in sealing the agreement.
The agreement, whose full text will soon be published, includes tariff reductions, regulatory cooperation, and market access provisions in key sectors such as:
-
Agriculture
-
Technology and medical devices
-
Automotive and chemicals
-
Pharmaceuticals
-
Critical minerals
The deal grants preferential access to U.S. agricultural products in the Argentine market, including:
-
Beef and live cattle
-
Poultry and dairy products
-
Grain-based foods and processed goods
In return, Argentina will benefit from reciprocal tariff reductions and expanded export opportunities for wine, fruits, and food products, as well as improved regulatory alignment for agri-food safety standards.
A key pillar of the agreement is a commitment to enhanced cooperation on critical minerals, essential for clean energy and high-tech manufacturing. On the eve of the trade deal signing, Quirno and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau signed a framework agreement on mining and mineral processing.
Argentina and the United States formalized a critical minerals cooperation deal in Washington, strengthening strategic ties in mining and supply chains.
Argentina, a leading lithium and copper source, is now officially positioned as a preferred U.S. trade partner in the global race for critical mineral supply chains-amid rising geopolitical competition with China.
The agreement received high praise from both administrations. U.S. Ambassador Peter Lamelas posted:
"The U.S. and Argentina signed a historic trade agreement. Together as true partners, we will be safer, stronger, and more prosperous. MAAGA."
The White House described the deal as fostering a "balanced and rules-based" environment for trade and innovation, aimed at long-term growth and economic resilience.
President Javier Milei celebrated the signing as a milestone for his administration's foreign policy, further cementing his alignment with the Trump-led U.S. agenda. Argentine officials also confirmed that several provisions may require legislative ratification, while others will be enacted by executive decree.
While the agreement is signed, full implementation will unfold in phases, including:
-
Legislative reforms
-
International treaty ratifications
-
Executive regulatory actions
The Argentine government expects "a significant workload" in detailing the pact's full scope and communicating sector-specific impacts, especially in agriculture, mining, and innovation-related trade.
