According to LatAm Pulse, a survey conducted by AtlasIntel for Bloomberg News at the end of January, nearly half of Argentinians expect Donald Trump's presidency to have a negative impact on Argentina, compared to the 37 percent who believe it will help. About 60 percent expressed concern about tariffs, and unlike Brazil, Chile, and Colombia, Argentinians are not convinced of the need to strengthen ties with the United States.
Argentine President Javier Milei has shown sympathy towards Trump throughout his term. However, this has not protected Argentina from being affected by the trade war initiated by the US leader. This week, Trump announced 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum, which could impact Argentina, a major supplier of aluminum to the United States.
Milei has based his presidency on the economic reconstruction of Argentina through "shock therapy" policies that, according to him, will lead to long-term prosperity. International investors have backed this vision, investing in the country's sovereign bonds and announcing large investments in sectors like energy and mining.
In the coming weeks, Milei will meet Trump at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in the United States in an attempt to negotiate Argentina's possible exemption from the metal tariffs. However, Trump's imposition of reciprocal tariffs could complicate negotiations, given the high average tariff that Argentina applies to imports.
The news of the new tariffs has generated concern among Argentine companies with operations in the United States, such as Aluar and Tenaris SA. Despite Milei's efforts to strengthen his relationship with Trump, Argentinians remain skeptical about the benefits this friendship may bring to the country, given the current trade situation.
