Friday, 03 October 2025
Jakarta
--:--
Tokyo
--:--
Hongkong
--:--
New York
--:--
Trump to meet with Argentina's Milei as soy sales could stymie $20 billion deal
Wednesday, 1 October 2025 05:04 WIB | ECONOMY |Ekonomi Global

U.S. President Donald Trump will meet with his Argentine counterpart Javier Milei in two weeks, Argentina said on Tuesday, as Milei seeks to clinch a credit swap line from the U.S. that has rankled some Republicans as the South American nation offloaded billions of dollars in soy to China.

The two will meet at the White House on October 14, during the week the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are set to convene in Washington.

The Argentine foreign ministry called the meeting a "new opportunity to continue strengthening the strategic partnership between both countries."

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent last week announced negotiations for a $20 billion swap line with Argentina's central bank, which would provide access to much-needed dollars.

Argentina's dollar bond prices and the peso rallied last week in the aftermath of Bessent's announcement, and have fallen since - partly on the lack of details of the pledged U.S. support. On Tuesday bonds were flat to down 2 cents each, while the peso weakened 1.5%.

Libertarian Milei's chainsaw-style austerity drive has helped address decades of solvency issues, but concerns over a cashflow crunch have persisted and analysts say October's mid-term elections could put his gains at risk.

The U.S. backing seems to have caused outcry among Trump's inner circle. The Associated Press last week captured an image of Bessent reading a text message appearing to be from Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, which called the deal unfortunate.

We bailed out Argentina and in return, the (Argentines) removed their export tariffs on grains, reducing their price, and sold a bunch of soybeans to China, at a time when we would normally be selling to China," showed the message from a contact that appeared as "BR."

Bessent and Rollins have not publicly commented on the text exchange, and their offices did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

In another bid to secure foreign currency and calm market jitters ahead of the midterms, Argentina's government temporarily suspended export taxes on grains last week, with traders booking $7 billion in sales in just a few days.

Source: Investing.com

RELATED NEWS
Trump eyes cuts to 'Democrat Agencies' in government shutdown...
Friday, 3 October 2025 03:47 WIB

U.S. President Donald Trump said he will meet with his budget director Russell Vought on Thursday to determine which "Democrat Agencies" to cut, as he looks to inflict pain on his political opposition...

Why US Economic Data Is "Pending"...
Thursday, 2 October 2025 23:47 WIB

The bottom line: The release of official US data is delayed because the federal government is currently in shutdown. While the budget hasn't been passed, the Antideficiency Act prohibits federal agenc...

US Supreme Court to Hear Arguments in Trump's Effort to Fire Federal Reserve Governor Cook; Will Remain in Office for the Time Being ...
Thursday, 2 October 2025 19:23 WIB

The US Supreme Court said Wednesday that it will hear arguments in January on Donald Trump's attempt to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, who will remain in office for the time being, setting u...

Trump: Meeting Xi in Four Weeks, Soybeans Top of Agenda...
Thursday, 2 October 2025 01:43 WIB

US President Donald Trump said he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the next four weeks, with soybeans a key topic of discussion. Trump made the announcement in a post on Truth Social on ...

US ISM Manufacturing PMI improved a tad in September...
Wednesday, 1 October 2025 21:21 WIB

The Institute for Supply Management's (ISM) data showed the Manufacturing PMI edging higher to 49.1 in September, up from 48.7 in August and slightly above analysts' expectations of 49. Meanwhile, th...

LATEST NEWS
Australian Dollar Weakens Slightly After Economic Data Release

The Australian dollar (AUD) weakened slightly against the US dollar (USD) following the release of a number of economic data, but then stabilized on Friday. Recent data showed that business activity in Australia is slowing. The Composite Purchasing...

Hang Seng Index Slightly Weakens

The Hong Kong stock market opened lower today. The Hang Seng Index fell 65 points, or 0.24%, to close at 27,221. The China Enterprises Index also fell 0.31%, while the technology index weakened 0.44%. Technology stocks showed mixed movements -...

Long Rally, Profit-Taking Caution

Gold approaches $3,860/oz, poised for its seventh weekly gain. The US shutdown has caused a data blackout, with the market and the Fed focusing on private sector releases, with weak recruitment and fewer layoffs. Market money has almost fully...

POPULAR NEWS
US ISM Manufacturing PMI improved a tad in September
Wednesday, 1 October 2025 21:21 WIB

The Institute for Supply Management's (ISM) data showed the Manufacturing PMI edging higher to 49.1 in September, up from 48.7 in August and...

Asia markets trade mixed after Wall Street gains ahead of a potential U.S. government shutdown
Wednesday, 1 October 2025 07:33 WIB

Asia-Pacific markets opened mixed Wednesday, following gains on Wall Street ahead of a potential U.S. government shutdown as lawmakers continue to...

RBA Leaves Cash Rate Target at 3.60%; Est. 3.60%
Tuesday, 30 September 2025 11:38 WIB

In a statement after the September policy meeting, the Reserve Bank of Australia said: "With signs that private demand is recovering, indications...

European shares flat as healthcare gains counter broader market weakness
Wednesday, 1 October 2025 14:38 WIB

European shares were flat on Wednesday, with gains in heavyweight healthcare stocks offsetting the decline in the broader market, as investors...