Overview
- President Javier Milei said U.S. access for Argentine beef will rise from 20,000 to 80,000 tonnes under a preferential structure that includes a 10% tariff and a fixed US$40 charge inside the quota.
- Reporting indicates officials from both countries are finalizing the beef terms so the two presidents can formalize the agreement in the near term.
- Separate negotiations have advanced on a zero-tariff quota for steel and aluminum, with sources projecting a cap near 180,000 tonnes to be outlined before the end of November.
- Argentina’s foreign minister Pablo Quirno and production official Pablo Lavigne are leading the talks, and another visit by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected before year-end.
- Analysts see annual gains ranging from roughly US$300 million to more than US$600 million, though a stagnant cattle herd and limited U.S.-certified plants could temper how quickly exporters use the larger beef quota.