A Trump official demanded that the Argentine government speed up the approval of the trade and investment agreement they signed in February

It is about the Reciprocal Trade and Investment Agreement (ARTI)signed on February 5 by Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno and the US Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer. But for President Milei to put it into effect Legislative approval is needed and the Government did not send it.

“The Deputy US Trade Representative, Ambassador Jeff Goettman, met in Buenos Aires with Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno and Minister of Economy Luis Caputo. Ambassador Goettman highlighted the notable economic and fiscal transformation of Argentina under the management of @JMilei and welcomed the opportunity to deepen the economic relationship between both countries. Likewise, Goettman stressed the importance of the ratification of the Agreement of Reciprocal Trade and Investment (ARTI) reached at the beginning of the year, to realize our shared economic vision,” the statement began, with great clarity about what they are asking of the Libertarian Government.

“The United States will continue to honor its commitments and understands that The Argentine government has made significant progress and intends to meet its goals as well.including the reduction of tariffs on US goods”he added.

Goettman, whose direct boss is Jamieson Greer, occupies one of the highest positions within one of the most important areas of the Trump administration: international trade and economic policy. He has experience because he had worked at the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM), and came to Argentina from Chile, where he was negotiating with the administration of José Antonio Kast the enormous increase in US tariffs on trans-Andean products, which reach 12%.

Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jeff Goettman met in Buenos Aires with Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno and Economy Minister Luis Caputo. Ambassador Goettman highlighted the notable economic and fiscal transformation of Argentina under the management of… https://t.co/uzNkQcusI1

— US Embassy in Argentina (@EmbajadaEEUUarg) August 28, 2026

Goettman’s visit to this country went unnoticed, but it was an important pressure factor. In Washington there are sectors that believe not only that political and economic stability can be seen affected by the upcoming electionsbut there are others who consider that Milei has to make “more efforts” to disengage from China, that his ultra-liberal trade is not grateful for the financial aid and political support that Trump has given him.

Milei could meet Trump during the libertarian’s trip to New York on September 23 – there he will give his speech to the United Nations; during the Hispanic Gala in Washington, where on October 14 he will give a speech to support his friend in the legislative elections on November 3; or in Mar-a-Lago, for the G20 summit, in mid-December.

Trump, in addition to financially supporting the government during last year’s market instability, issued an executive order to increase the traditional annual meat quota with zero tariff which was for 20,000 tons. And now 80,000 more can enter, but it was not included in the extras of up to 300,000 recently announced. It kept the tariff at the global increase of 10%, lower than that of several of its allies. And now He puts pressure on Argentina to lower theirs.

Until now, the Government is dealing with some laws that are related to the ARTI itself. On Thursday, for example, the Chamber of Deputies of Argentina gave half-sanction to the accession to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). The project had to return to the Senate for review due to a modification made to the text.

According to Clarín, even the allies know that this agreement can violate what was agreed by Argentina in Mercosur or in the European Union-Mercosur pactand even Argentine clauses before the World Trade Organization, because dclarifies the US as a priority country in commerce.

It can even crash bilaterally with Brazil and Chinathe two most important partners in the country. In this case, the Government never reported whether it consulted in the mandatory areas of the Foreign Ministry to evaluate whether it was possible to make such a commitment.

But Lamelas himself became involved in a personal crusade to keep China away from the most sensitive investments for the United States, starting with telecommunications and Huawei in the Vaca Muerta field, in Neuquén. China has protested and maintains a strong dispute with the US embassy here and a standing invitation to Milei to visit Beijing.

Chancellor Quirno said at the Buenos Aires Bar Association on Thursday that all this was a “myth.” He maintained that the relationship with the United States and China were on “separate and parallel” “paths.” And he confirmed that Milei was going to travel to China, although there is no date for it.