U.S.-Argentina Business Council Policy Priorities
I. Overarching Priorities
- Promote free enterprise, competition and open markets as the key drivers of policy reform and ensure a strong business environment for the expansion of bilateral trade and investment.
- Advance recommendations that serve to increase predictability, stability and transparency in Argentina.
- Support Argentina’s efforts to stabilize and open its economy to kick-start a process of long-term sustainable growth.
- Support Argentina’s negotiations with the IMF.
- Campaign in support Argentina’s OECD Accession.
- Support the reestablishment of the Argentina Congressional Caucus.
II. Trade and Investment: Encourage both governments to expand and deepen their cooperation to foster an open, transparent, and predictable environment for trade and investment.
- Support the consolidation of a unified exchange rate and the lifting of restrictions in the foreign exchange market.
- Urge for the prompt deregulation of the economy to promote competition across sectors, digitalization and simplification of processes.
- Promote a robust trade relationship, whether a U.S. – Argentina Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and/or alternative trade protocols like a cooperation agreement.
- Endorse a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) meeting and TIFA protocol agreement on the path to a full FTA.
- Encourage trade facilitation and digitalization, through the improvement of all functionalities of the Single Window for Foreign Trade (VUCE), modernizing the express delivery regulatory regime, ensuring that all relevant trade procedures can be carried out online and through a single-entry point.
- Advocate for easier Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) accreditation for relevant national commercial operators, include other industries (such as express operations) in the program, and the promotion of mutual recognition agreements with foreign customs offices.
- Urge for alignment with international standards for intellectual property to ensure U.S. companies receive reciprocal treatment in Argentina as Argentine companies do in the U.S.
- Recommend Good Regulatory Practices and the importance of the reduction of costs and time for compliance certification with technical regulations, including a self-certification scheme or minimizing the involvement of state-accredited organizations.
- Identify best practices with the Argentine government to advance opportunities through the incentive regime for large investments (RIGI) that are flexible and clear to potential investors.
- Promote tax reform at the federal and provincial level to reduce the tax burden and simplify processes.
- Support the Argentine government’s efforts on privatization and promotion of a market-driven economy.
III. Energy & Critical Minerals: Encourage Argentina to materialize its energy and critical minerals potential, developing the necessary infrastructure and implementing market-oriented rules for the sector.
- Advocate for the exploration of investment opportunities with critical minerals, specifically lithium and copper.
- Recommend the introduction of credible policies to progressively repatriate dividends and lift capital controls.
- Defend the liberalization of energy tariffs to reflect market conditions, reducing distorting subsidies until their full elimination.
- Encourage the elimination of export taxes and transition to a free-market scheme as production increases and meets local demand.
- Endorse the development of critical infrastructure (e.g., Vaca Muerta pipelines, LNG import, export terminals, roads, and electricity) and facilitation of investment in infrastructure, including through public-private partnerships.
- Advocate for U.S. support of Argentina’s critical minerals sector as a strategic ally in the Western Hemisphere to make supply chains more resilient.
IV. Innovation: Work with both governments to cooperate to create positive ecosystems for investment in technology, science, and research.
- Urge the adoption of a modern data protection law and/or regulatory framework that ensures the free, secure, and efficient flow of data.
- Recommend accelerating the implementation of 5G technology at the federal level, network upgrades and high-capacity broadband deployment for data-intensive technologies.
- Encourage secure network infrastructure with robust observability, the adoption of cybersecurity measures, and the removal of outdated devices from critical infrastructures.
- Advocate for the repeal of restrictive patentability criteria and the extension of intellectual property rights protection to all types of chemical and pharmaceutical innovations.
- Support the recognition of patentability of living matter.
- Encourage the adoption of UPOV 91 standards to ensure the protection of plant varieties.
- Defend the extension of data exclusivity protection and recognition of its exclusivity.
- Endorse the modification of patent terms that promotes an innovative environment and considers delays that are not attributable to innovators.
- Advance the implementation of a capacity development program focused on the importance of intellectual property rights enforcement.
- Support Argentina’s development in becoming a global AI hub.