The White House on Thursday announced the conclusion of trade agreements with Argentina, Guatemala, Ecuador and El Salvador, in four separate press releases published on its website. The four countries concerned have reportedly made a series of commitments, in particular by opening their markets to American products, in return for which the Trump administration promised to lower import duties on certain products they export to the United States, for example agricultural products or textiles.
A senior US official said general tariffs of 10% on products from Guatemala, El Salvador and Argentina, and 15% on products from Ecuador, “will not change” but there will be “reductions” on some goods. This senior official, who did not want to be named, took bananas as an example. Guatemala supplies 41% of the bananas imported to the United States and Ecuador 19%.
In contrast, Argentina, for example, is seeking to open its markets to American livestock and American poultry and simplify the entry of American beef. Some of the agreements announced on Thursday also guarantee, according to the senior officials mentioned, United States access to strategic minerals. The four countries in question also pledged not to tax digital services, which is a key demand of the American president, according to the same sources.
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, an ally of Donald Trump, published the text of the X agreement with one brief comment: “Friends”, accompanied by the flags of both countries. Bernardo Arevalo, President of Guatemala, welcomed the compromise that envisions “solid relations” with the United States and makes his country “more competitive and attractive in terms of investment.” Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno spoke to him about the agreement that “boosts bilateral trade. »
