Argentina\u2019s ambassador to the United States has confirmed that talks over a \u201csignificant\u201d bilateral trade deal between the nations are ongoing and that an announcement could be made very soon,<\/p>\n
Speaking in a radio interview, Alejandro \u2018Alec\u2019 Oxenford said the two nations would sign a trade agreement but that he was not allowed to discuss details.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe could have news very soon. I\u2019ve signed a confidentiality agreement, but I can say it\u2019s extremely important,\u201d said Oxenford.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t comment further. There will be developments shortly,\u201d promised the diplomat, who also described the deal as the culmination of \u201ca very significant collective effort in Buenos Aires and Washington, marking a before and after in cooperation between the two countries.\u201d<\/p>\n
President Javier Milei\u2019s ambassador in Washington was among those present at the White House meeting between Argentina\u2019s leader and US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, an event Oxenford described as \u201chistoric.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a historic and symbolic event. The meeting between Trump and Milei is an unprecedented milestone in bilateral relations \u2013 not even during [former president] Carlos Menem\u2019s era did we see anything like it,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is the culmination of months of intense diplomatic effort.\u201d<\/p>\n
Oxenford highlighted the rapport between Milei and Trump, revealing the two leaders had shared a private conversation. \u201cThere\u2019s trust, respect, affection. You see two friends talking and smiling \u2013 that\u2019s not the norm. It\u2019s very unusual,\u201d emphasised the ambassador, a successful tech entrepreneur and businessman.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll come to understand the significance of this meeting \u2013 it\u2019s highly relevant on every level \u2013 in the coming months, when the outcomes begin to emerge. These will range from agreements across many areas,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Oxenford went on to criticise the accredited press corps at the White House, accusing them of taking Trump\u2019s remarks out of context after media reports suggested that US financial support for Argentina is dependent on Milei\u2019s performance in the October 26 midterm elections.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe support was total, explicit, and solid,\u201d said the envoy, adding: \u201cIt was very much aligned with a shared vision. I was there from start to finish, and it\u2019s clear to me the statement was completely taken out of context.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJournalists tend to exaggerate and take quotes out of context,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAt no point did I feel there was any intention to undermine our sovereignty \u2026 No-one wants an Argentina that isn\u2019t sovereign. These decisions strengthen Argentina and will enable us to defend our sovereignty more effectively. I see no contradiction,\u201d concluded Oxenford.<\/p>\n
Several of President Milei\u2019s top officials have previously hinted that a trade deal is imminent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Deregulation & State Transformation Minister said recently that \u201cwe are going to have a rather unprecedented trade agreement within the United States, and that agreement will allow certain sectors of our economy to have privileged access to the North American market.<\/p>\n
The United States is Argentina’s third-largest trading partner at present, behind Brazil and China.\u00a0<\/p>\n
According to a recent report by the consulting firm Analytica, trade flows between the two countries reversed last year in favour of Argentina due to a drop in imports, closing with a surplus of US$228 million.<\/p>\n
Currently, domestic products face a base tariff rate of 10 percent since last April, although specific levies remain, with 50-percent tariffs applied to aluminium and steel.<\/p>\n
National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich said Thursday that Argentina will sign an agreement with the FBI to cooperate on counter-terrorism operations.<\/p>\n
The agreement will include access to the National Counter-terrorism Centre (CNA), which will function as a \u00abhotline\u00bb to prevent possible attacks.<\/p>\n
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