Overview
- ARCA chief Juan Pazo and customs director Andrés Veliz signed the pact in Washington with CBP deputy executive assistant commissioner Donald R. Stakes.
- The agreement targets full digitalization of Argentina’s customs processes, earlier threat detection, and alignment with World Customs Organization standards.
- A soy-market information exchange is included, and the White House cited cooperation on stabilizing soy trade as well as collaboration on critical minerals.
- Media reports suggest a possible notification mechanism for regulatory changes like export-duty cuts, though officials have not confirmed such a clause and Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno affirmed tax sovereignty.
- The move builds on 1990s-era cooperation and dovetails with ARCA’s modernization financed by an estimated USD 1.2 billion IDB loan and a USD 300 million World Bank project.