The president of the foreign trade commission of the Chamber of Industries, Washington Durán, expressed his concern about a new “trade war” and its impact on the Uruguayan country.

Uruguayan industrialists are concerned about the stance of US President Donald Trump on international trade. His recent announcements of the imposition of tariffs on his main trading partners, Mexico and Canada, have raised global alarm for a new “trade war” like the one he started with China in 2018 during his first term.

In this context —and following Trump's recent announcement to impose a 25% tax on all US imports of steel and aluminum—, the president of the foreign trade commission of the Chamber of Industries of Uruguay (CIU), Washington Durán, told El Observador that "the lack of adherence" of the United States "to international trade rules" is a cause for concern.

The CIU is concerned about the situation, given that Trump's recent announcements are aimed primarily at Mexico and Canada, "historic partners of the United States and with whom it has an agreement that has been widely used by everyone," said Durán, adding that "this agreement had been renegotiated very recently" during the previous administration.

“What we are seeing seems very dangerous. Although Uruguay has not yet been specifically affected (by Trump's tariff announcements), you never know where it will go. The problem is the trade war that is beginning to develop and how that affects security in international trade,” reflected the director of the industrial association.

Along the same lines, Marcel Vaillant, PhD in Economics and specialist in international trade, stated on his X account that the United States “is outside the international framework of trade rules with these measures” and that if the “multilateral system” of trade is to be “rescued,” the United States “should be suspended” from it. “Otherwise, the World Trade Organization (WTO) must be closed,” Vaillant asserted.

The CIU director said that the union is closely monitoring the international trade panorama and the effects that Trump's stance is having on the different markets. In this regard, Durán recalled that the United States is "a very important buyer" of Uruguayan products, ranking as the fourth export destination.

“We are not the ones who send migrants to the United States; we are not the ones who send drugs; nor do we have as a State, at least during this government, an anti-Israel policy,” said Durán, referring to the arguments that the American president has used to adopt certain trade and financing measures.

TRADE: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN URUGUAY AND THE UNITED STATES

In 2024, the United States ranked as the fourth largest buyer of Uruguayan goods. Exports from Uruguay to the United States totaled US$ 1,192 million, which represented an increase of 37% compared to the 2023 figure (US$ 873 million).

The main Uruguayan products sold to the United States were beef, meat by-products, cellulose, wood, and medical devices and instruments.

Meanwhile, imports amounted to US$ 625 million last year. The most important purchases were crude oil, diesel oil, mixed or unmixed medicines and planters.