The Argentine government is confident of reaching a tariff deal with the Donald Trump administration in the United States, even after the Republican-imposed deadline expires on Friday.

“We’re doing well,” a senior source involved in the negotiations categorically assured The Herald’s sister publication Ámbito, adding that they are on track. It’s worth remembering that Argentina was one of the first countries to open talks with the White House once the first round of tariffs was imposed in April.

On April 2, Trump signed Executive Order 14,257, which established a base tariff of 10% for all imports and higher percentages for some nations. The U.S. president then set July 9 as the deadline for sealing agreements, which he later postponed until August 1.

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The expectation among both the government and analysts is that the good rapport between President Javier Milei and Trump will facilitate reaching an agreement, which could occur after the deadline if the U.S. president extends the deadlines for those negotiations, a power he has.

“Good news is coming,” Milei himself predicted last Saturday, in what many consider a sign that Argentina will reach a successful conclusion in trade talks with the US, unlike what has happened with the other major economy in the region, Brazil, which has suffered a 50% tariff on a long list of goods it exports since Wednesday.

The strong political bias in the measure Trump imposed on Brazilian imports is also seen as a potential path to pave the way for a tariff agreement with Argentina. The Republican leader’s relationship with President Lula da Silva is the polar opposite of his relationship with Milei.

Originally published on Ámbito