President Javier Milei has pledged to adjust Argentina's regulations to align with US President Donald Trump's new tariff requirements following the imposition of 10% duties on Argentine imports. Speaking at a charity gala at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on April 4, Milei claimed Argentina has already met nine of 16 necessary requirements and has instructed officials to address the remaining conditions.

“Argentina is going to move forward to readjust the regulations so that we meet the requirements of the reciprocal tariffs proposal developed" by Trump, Milei stated, as quoted by AFP. “As you can see, we make policies with actions, not mere words, and on that, we agree with President Trump: it is time to act.”

Last month, Trump signalled he was open to talks on a potential free-trade agreement with Argentina.

For his part, Milei, whom Trump has praised as a "great leader," has said he is prepared to withdraw Argentina from the Mercosur trade bloc if necessary to secure a deal with the US.

Yet, despite Milei's conciliatory stance, a planned meeting between the two presidents failed to materialise due to apparent scheduling complications. La Nacion reported that Trump arrived at the event shortly after the Argentine delegation had departed, contradicting initial claims from Argentina's Foreign Ministry that Trump had not attended the gala at all.

The Argentine news outlet added that the dinner was marked by tension, particularly involving Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein and Natalia De Negri, who had facilitated the Argentine delegation's participation. According to sources familiar with the situation, the Argentine officials left around 10:30 p.m. after being informed Trump would not attend, only for the US president to appear approximately 30 minutes later.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. has issued a concerning economic forecast for the US, warning of a potential recession with activity contracting at an annualised quarterly rate of 1% in the third quarter and 0.5% in the fourth quarter as a result of Trump's protectionist policies, as reported by Clarín. Still, the Trump administration appears determined to pursue its protectionist policy.

Milei's accommodating approach to Trump's tariffs starkly contrasts the retaliatory measures being considered by other affected nations, highlighting the Argentine leader's determination to maintain strong ties with the United States despite the economic costs that may be incurred. While this policy position reflects the libertarian president's broader ideological alignment with Trump's conservative values, it is also a testament to the difficult predicament that Argentina finds itself in with the US.

As reported by the South China Morning Post, the Trump administration’s support for Argentina’s impending new deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) may hinge on the country distancing itself from China by ending its $5bn currency swap agreement with the East Asian superpower. While Milei may ideologically align with the Trump government, the need to bend to the US administration’s whims could certainly dictate the South American country’s economic and trade trajectory.