Now the train is coming head-on . . .

While exporters were still reeling from the new port stoppage (with new complications and losses for various sectors), social media began to spread the news: Argentina and the US have agreed on a negotiation framework to sign a bilateral Trade and Investment Promotion Agreement. What is known so far are various statements and a White House statement that -as expected- tends to highlight the benefits for the US economy, although it also points out opportunities for Argentina. This does not diminish the great relevance of the same, which marks a before and after for the region. The Agreement has key context and antecedents to understand it. The Trump era has put the US in direct confrontation with China, a struggle that takes place on all levels, including -obviously- the commercial one. Since his first administration, Trump has proposed competition with China as a key axis and has been reaffirming it. After many years of coexistence by mutual convenience (China providing cheap ...