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With the possibility of advancing a trade agreement, Bessent visited Argentina to support president Milei

During their meeting at the Casa Rosada, Treasury Secretary highlighted the libertarian's "bold economic reforms" and praised Argentina's “early move" to reduce barriers to reciprocal trade with the United States.

Milei and Bessent in Buenos Aires/ ARGENTINIAN PRESIDENCY

Milei and Bessent in Buenos Aires/ ARGENTINIAN PRESIDENCYAFP

Agustina Blanco
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3 minutes read

The U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent visited Buenos Aires this Monday and expressed his country's full support for the economic reforms promoted by Argentine President Javier Milei. For his part, the libertarian assured that Argentina is ready to sign a trade agreement with the United States.

During their meeting at the Casa Rosada, Bessent highlighted the president's "bold economic reforms" and praised Argentina's “early move” to reduce barriers to reciprocal trade with the United States, according to an official statement from the U.S. Embassy in Argentina.

The meeting, which took place in the presidential office, was attended by the U.S. Embassy Chargé d'Affaires, Lydia Barraza; the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Michael Kaplan; and the Chief of Staff, Dan Katz, on the U.S. side.

From the Argentine side, accompanying Milei were the Minister of Economy, Luis Caputo; the president of the Central Bank, Santiago Bausili; the Secretary of Finance, Pablo Quirno; and the Secretary of Economic Policies, José Luis Daza.

Bessent also congratulated Milei for the recent negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which culminated in a new US$20 billion loan for Argentina.

"The secretary (of the Treasury) emphasized U.S. confidence in President Milei to continue driving Argentina's positive economic momentum," the statement said. This agreement with the IMF came in parallel to the Argentine government's announcement to lift the exchange rate cap, a move that marked a milestone in Milei's economic agenda.

In turn, the president of Argentina slipped the possibility of advancing a trade agreement between the two countries. “On a commercial level, we understand the reciprocal tariffs proposal that President Trump elaborated. We are ready to sign a trade agreement along those lines, which will undoubtedly benefit everyone, both the United States and Argentina. That greater trade integration means nothing more and nothing less than citizens of both nations being able to access better quality goods and services at a better price,” he said.

Earlier, Bessent met with Caputo at the Palacio de Hacienda, where he highlighted the "vital role" of the minister and his team in the design and implementation of the economic reforms. According to the U.S. Treasury, the secretary conveyed that Argentina has the potential to achieve a "bright future" for its people through policies that promote stability and growth, supporting workers and the private sector.

Bessent's visit reinforces the Donald Trump administration's support for Milei's economic agenda in a context of profound transformations in Argentina and strengthening bilateral ties with the United States.

Bessent's visit to Buenos Aires

Within the framework of his visit, Bessent participated in a private lunch at the Bosch Palace, residence of the U.S. Ambassador, together with prominent businessmen and CEOs of multinationals. Among the attendees were Marcos Galperín (Mercado Libre), Alejandro Bulgheroni (PAE), Julio Figueroa (Citi), and Martín Genesio and Mariana Schoua (Amcham), among others.

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