Argentina

The other direction

What America sells to Argentina

$10.0B in 2025 — a trade rupture cuts both ways, for American producers as well as American prices.

Policy in motion

Tariff status: a moving target

U.S. tariff policy toward Argentina has changed 6 times since 2025. This page tracks it.

1. 2026-02-24

   IEEPA reciprocal tariffs terminated — replaced by 10% Section 122

   In effect

   Executive Order 14389 (Ending Certain Tariff Actions) terminated the IEEPA tariff duties effective February 24, 2026, replacing the reciprocal regime with a 10% Section 122 temporary import surcharge (Proclamation 11012) — leaving Argentina's effective reciprocal rate unchanged at 10%. Section 232 metals at 50% are unaffected and remain under review per the agreement.

   91 FR 9437 →

2. 2026-02-05

   Agreement on Reciprocal Trade and Investment signed

   Agreement

   The U.S. and Argentina signed a full Agreement on Reciprocal Trade and Investment, the first of the four November 2025 Latin American frameworks to be completed, formalizing the 10% ceiling and expanded beef access.

   Source ↗

3. 2025-11-13

   U.S.-Argentina framework agreement reached

   Agreement

   Argentina became the first of four Latin American partners to reach a framework, securing a 10% tariff ceiling, expanded beef tariff-rate quotas, a review of the 50% steel duties, and exemptions for certain unavailable natural resources and non-patented pharmaceutical inputs, in exchange for preferential access for U.S. goods.

   Source ↗

4. 2025-06-04

   Section 232 steel and aluminum doubled to 50%

   In effect

   Proclamation 10947 raised the Section 232 steel and aluminum tariff to 50% for all countries except the UK. Argentina received no carve-out, so its metals rate moved from 25% to 50%.

   90 FR 24199 →

5. 2025-04-05

   10% reciprocal baseline applies — no elevated rate

   In effect

   Executive Order 14257 imposed a 10% universal reciprocal duty. As a country running a goods trade deficit with the U.S., Argentina was not assigned an elevated country-specific rate and remained at the 10% baseline.

   90 FR 15041 →

6. 2025-03-12

   Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs applied to Argentina at 25%

   In effect

   Proclamations terminated Argentina's prior steel and aluminum quota arrangements (Proclamations 9758 and 9759) and subjected Argentine steel, aluminum, and derivatives to the 25% Section 232 tariff.

   Federal Register · 2025-02833 →

Reference

The country itself

South America · Geography, people, economy, and government — public-domain data from the CIA World Factbook.

In 1816, the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata declared their independence from Spain. After Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay went their separate ways, the area that remained became Argentina. European immigrants heavily shaped the country's population and culture, with Italy and Spain providing the largest percentage of newcomers from 1860 to 1930. Until about the mid-20th century, much of Argentina's history was dominated by periods of internal political unrest and conflict between civilian and military factions. After World War II, former President Juan Domingo PERÓN -- the founder of the Peronist political movement -- introduced an era of populism, serving three non-consecutive terms in office until his death in 1974. Direct and indirect military interference in government throughout the PERÓN years led to a military junta taking power in 1976. In 1982, the junta failed in its bid to seize the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) by force from the United Kingdom. Democracy was reinstated in 1983 and has persisted despite numerous challenges, the most formidable of which was a severe economic crisis in 2001-02 that led to violent public protests and the successive resignations of several presidents. The years 2003-15 saw Peronist rule by Néstor KIRCHNER (2003-07) and his spouse Cristina FERNÁNDEZ DE KIRCHNER (2007-15), who oversaw several years of strong economic growth (2003-11) followed by a gradual deterioration in the government’s fiscal situation and eventual economic stagnation and isolation. Argentina underwent a brief period of economic reform and international reintegration under Mauricio MACRI (2015-19), but a recession in 2018-19 and frustration with MACRI’s economic policies ushered in a new Peronist government in 2019 led by President Alberto FERNÁNDEZ and Vice President Cristina FERNÁNDEZ DE KIRCHNER. Argentina's high public debts, its pandemic-related inflationary pressures, and systemic monetary woes served as the catalyst for the 2023 elections, culminating with President Javier MILEI's electoral success. Argentina has since eliminated half of its government agencies and is seeking shock therapy to amend taxation and monetary policies.