An envoy of the US government visited Argentina with the aim of analyzing the recent rise of import tariffs decreed by President Donald Trump.
Within this framework, the emissary, Robert Garverick, Undersecretary of Policy and Commercial Negotiations of the State Department, met in Buenos Aires with government officials and businessmen, according to Clarín newspaper.
The purpose of this visit lies in monitoring the progress of the measures issued by the White House, which include 10% reciprocal taxes that currently apply to Argentine imports. Despite the relevance of this meeting, both the United States Embassy and the Argentine Government kept secret the details of the meeting.
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The chief of cabinet, Guillermo Francos, spoke with Chain 3 After the first week without exchange restrictions and referred to the aliquots imposed by the Trump administration.
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Robert Garverick, who is the main commercial negotiator, was in charge of leading these conversations. It is commented on private circles that could be except reciprocally around 50 products, thus achieving that tariffs fall to zero both for imports to the United States and for Argentine exports, a decision that had the approval of Mercosur during the recent meeting of the block.
last Friday, the Argentine government obtained the approval of Mercosur at the Foreign Ministry meeting that took place at the San Martín Palace. The temporary extension of the national list of exceptions to the common external tariff was ratified, thus allowing an increase in products from 100 to 150, which would facilitate advance in negotiations with respect to the reciprocal reduction of other products.
Argentine exports have been taxed by the reciprocal tariff, significantly affecting prices. Specialists warn that for food, this represents twice what was previously paid, and for plant and chemical products, the costs multiplied by ten.
Estimates from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicate that the 50 positions could represent 80% of the total that Argentina sends to the United States, which is equivalent to approximately US $ 5,000 million.
From the government it is argued that Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein had assumed the commitment to review different critical points, such as the prohibition of imports and other barriers to trade, which had been previously discussed in April.
Javier Milei also reported that nine of the 16 stipulated requirements have been met, indicating that the elimination of the barriers identified by the Office of the Commerce Representative (USTR) will be advanced.
During his stay, Garverick also explored relations with China, a country considered the main adversary in the commercial war. Recently, Argentina was suggested to cancel the swap with China, which generated a discontent by the latter.
In addition, the head of the South Command, Alvin Holsey, visited the Ushuaia naval base last week, underlining the growing geopolitical competence in the region and the influence of China, which occupy a central role in the negotiations with Trump.
