New U.S.–Latin America Trade Deals

The United States has announced a set of new framework trade agreements with four Latin American countries: Argentina, Ecuador, Guatemala and El Salvador; that will reshape tariff patterns on key food and agricultural products.

One of the headline moves: the U.S. plans to drop a 10% reciprocal tariff on Argentine beef and significantly expand the volume that can enter the country at low or zero duty.

For shippers, importers, and exporters across the Americas, these changes are not just political news, they will directly influence sourcing strategies, landed costs, and routing decisions over the next few years.

What Exactly Did the U.S. Announce?

According to U.S. officials, Washington has reached framework agreements (not full free trade agreements) with Argentina, Ecuador, Guatemala and El Salvador. These frameworks are expected to be finalized in the coming weeks and have three main features:

Selective tariff reductions on imports into the U.S.

  • The U.S. will remove tariffs on certain products that are not grown, mined, or produced domestically, classic examples include bananas and coffee from Ecuador, and some specialty foods from the region.

Continued baseline tariffs on most other goods

  • For most products, current tariff levels remain in place:
    • Roughly 10% on goods from Argentina, Guatemala, and El Salvador
    • Around 15% on goods from Ecuador

Better market access for U.S. exports

  • Partner countries have agreed to lower non-tariff barriers and reduce duties on certain U.S. agricultural and industrial products, and to refrain from imposing new digital services taxes on U.S. companies.

The political backdrop is clear: the Trump administration is under pressure to address cost-of-living concerns, and is using targeted tariff relief on food imports as a tool to ease prices for U.S. consumers.

Spotlight on Argentina: Beef Tariffs and Quotas

Argentina’s beef industry is the star of this announcement.

Today, Argentine beef faces a 10% reciprocal tariff when entering the U.S. Under the new framework, that tariff is expected to be eliminated, while the duty-free quota is set to grow sharply.

Key changes for Argentine beef:

  • 10% tariff removed on qualifying beef imports from Argentina.
  • Duty-free quota expanded from roughly 20,000 metric tons to 80,000 metric tons. Above that threshold, a higher 25% tariff will kick in, as currently set by Congress.
  • Argentina has also committed to simplify product registration and reduce administrative hurdles for U.S. meat and dairy exporters selling into the Argentine market.

For Argentine producers, this is a major win: they gain more access to one of the world’s most lucrative meat markets. For U.S. retailers and foodservice operators, cheaper imported beef could ease pressure on margins and potentially bring down shelf prices.

Not surprisingly, some U.S. rancher groups and members of Congress have already voiced concerns that additional market access for Argentine beef could undercut domestic producers or raise animal-health risks.

What’s in It for Ecuador, Guatemala, and El Salvador?

While Argentina is at the center of the beef story, the other three countries also stand to benefit:

Ecuador

    • Gains tariff-free or lower-tariff access for products like bananas, coffee, and other foods that are not produced in the U.S.
    • Exports such as bananas and shrimp are likely to become even more competitive in the U.S. market, especially in a context where price sensitivity is high.

Guatemala and El Salvador

    • The U.S. will remove duties on selected goods, while keeping a 10% baseline tariff on most other products.
    • In exchange, they will reduce barriers to U.S. agricultural and industrial imports, and commit to rules that favor digital trade and investment.

In all four cases, the stated objective from Washington is the same: maintain leverage via broad tariffs but carve out targeted relief to reduce U.S. food prices while opening foreign markets for U.S. exporters.

Action Checklist for Supply Chain and Trade Teams

Re-run landed cost scenarios

Compare sourcing options from Argentina and other Latin American origins under the new tariff and quota structure.

Map exposure by HS code

Flag SKUs that benefit from tariff relief vs. those still subject to higher rates or TRQs.

Update contracts & INCOTERMS®

Adjust pricing, risk-sharing, and duty/tax responsibilities to match the new rules.

Align with brokers and 3PLs

Coordinate on documentation, quota management, and reefer capacity to keep compliant cargo moving.

Monitor the policy horizon

Track how these framework deals are implemented and watch for new agreements or domestic pushback that could change the impact.

At GLC, we sit at the intersection of customs compliance, refrigerated logistics, and Latin American trade lanes. Our teams help you model landed costs, validate HS classifications, manage quota exposure, and move temperature-controlled cargo with full visibility from origin to final delivery.

If you need support adapting your strategy to these new tariff realities – or want a second look at your current routing and compliance setup – contact our team at [email protected]  or visit glc-inc.com to connect with a specialist.