Argentine President Javier Milei spoke after his Monday meeting with United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, announcing Argentina was “ready to sign a trade agreement” with the U.S.

After a day of various meetings on Monday with Bessent’s entourage, the two spoke together at a press conference at the Casa Rosada. Milei claimed the trade deal “will undoubtedly benefit both the United States and Argentina.” 

“Greater trade integration means nothing more and nothing less than citizens of both nations being able to access better-quality goods and services at better prices,” he added. 

However, Bessent denied that the United States would offer a special credit line to Argentina during an interview with Bloomberg, as had been rumored in the days leading up to his visit. Asked whether he would consider such an arrangement, he said: “That’s not under consideration.”

Bessent took his moment to speak in the press conference to praise Argentina’s economic reforms since the Milei administration was elected. “There was a man who recognized that the State was not the solution, but the problem. A man who had the courage to defend Argentina by opposing the establishment, and that man is here with me. I am proud to support President Javier Milei in his tireless efforts to make Argentina great again.”

He added that Milei and U.S. President Donald Trump “lead two of the greatest countries in the Western Hemisphere” and welcomed the agreement the country had made last week with the International Monetary Fund.

“The IMF program will provide Argentina with financial relief amid the adjustment; it will facilitate exchange rate liberalization while protecting market stability.” He also predicted a “massive boom in foreign direct investment.”

The U.S. official, a key member of President Trump’s administration in the White House, arrived in Buenos Aires this morning to meet Milei and Economy Minister Luis Caputo.

Before the press conference, Bessent was also interviewed live on Bloomberg, where he commented on Argentina’s renewed US$5 billion currency swap deal with China that was announced last week.

He said: “[If] this administration continues to stay the course on their economic policies, they should eventually have enough foreign exchange inflows to be able to pay that off.”

An earlier press release from the US Treasury Department also commended Argentina for “moving quickly” to negotiate on “reciprocal trade measures” with the US.