Argentina – Political and Economic Overview

Argentina – Political and Economic Overview

Current Political State and Human Rights Issues 

Despite a strong democracy, Argentina struggles with public trust and corruption. During 2022,  protests erupted throughout Argentina in response to the economic crisis and increased poverty.  In August 2022, groups marched through Buenos Aires. The Confederation of Labour - CGT union  emphasized that the protest was not against the government, but to demand effective measures  to curb price rises. Protests increased in November 2022, with social organizations demanding  more support to counter inflation. In response to the corruption allegations and attacks against  Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, supporters staged protests during the latter half  of 2022 and gathered outside her house to express support.  

On September 1, 2022, a failed assassination attempt on Kirchner led to more protests  condemning political violence. In December 2022, Kirchner was found guilty of corruption when  she was president, skimming almost $1 billion from fake contracts from public works projects.  Argentina also struggles with police brutality and femicide: in the first eight months of 2021,  advocacy group Mumalá registered at least 118 femicides, and in 13% of those cases the  perpetrator was a member of security forces. In 2020, over 250 femicides were recorded.  

Between 2013 and 2020, 5,965 gender violence complaints were filed against police officers in the Buenos Aires province, with 80% of those officers still in uniform. The “Ni Una Menos”  movement has been protesting violence against women since 2015 and the pressure resulted in some change: abortion was legalized, the Ministry of Women, Genders, and Diversity was created, and Micaela’s Law requires training in gender issues and violence against women for all  public employees. Despite this, femicides remain an issue. 

Economy in Argentina  

Argentina remains the third largest economy in Latin America and maintains excellent trade  relationships with both the United States and China. Under the Fernandez Administration, taxes  on high-income households and exports have increased, the minimum wage has been raised, and  interest rates lowered. However, the country has one of the highest inflation rates in the world  and four in ten citizens live below the poverty line.  

Recently, Argentina’s economy has struggled with Covid-19, price and capital controls, inflation,  and debt. Foreign investment dropped 38% in 2020 as compared to 2019, and the economy  overall has shrunk each year since 2018. In April 2023, the IMF aided Argentina by easing the  targets of its $44 billion loan deal. However, this decision faced criticism as some fear this will  lead to a potential devaluation that would bring Argentina into a deeper crisis.  

US - Argentina Relationship 

The U.S. and Argentina maintain a bilateral relationship based on economic ties and shared  interests. The two countries have worked together to strengthen counterterrorism cooperation  throughout the Western Hemisphere. For example, Argentina hosted the second Western  Hemisphere Counterterrorism Ministerial (WHCM) in Buenos Aires in 2019. In addition,  Argentina designated Hizballah as a terrorist organization, the first country in Latin America to  do so.  

Argentina and the US also collaborate on crime countering initiatives, working together to form  the Regional Security Mechanism. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the US assisted Argentina in  making sure personal protective equipment was available to frontline workers and medical staff,  and the US also donated an assortment of protective equipment, including N95 masks and gloves.  The US provided funding through the Migration and Refugee Account to further help with  humanitarian assistance and Covid-19 response efforts.  

Argentina and the US also maintain a trade surplus, and the US is the largest foreign investor in  Argentina, with about $10.7 billion in stock foreign direct investment. There are more than 300  US companies doing business in Argentina. In 2019, a US interagency delegation visited Argentina  to promote women-led small businesses in support of women’s economic empowerment. The  US is seeking to mobilize $1 billion for women-owned, women-led businesses in Latin America. 

Recommendations for US Businesses 

Argentina is facing high inflation rates, which has prompted Argentine producers to request more  money from the Central Bank to import the same quantity of goods. The Russia-Ukraine war has  also affected prices and the Argentine government imposes import barriers that cause delays or  denials of licenses to importers. Importers also face strict limitations on their ability to access  foreign currency to pay for imported goods and services. Despite the economic turmoil that  Argentina is experiencing, there are still significant opportunities for U.S. companies in energy,  mining, health, agriculture, information technology, and infrastructure sectors.  

Over 300 U.S. companies are doing business in Argentina, which is a great sign, and U.S.  companies are widely respected in Argentina. However, economic instability is still something to  continue monitoring, as the situation may worsen. This should be an important consideration  when establishing contracts with partners and customers in Argentina.  

As evidenced by recent events involving the former president of Argentina, Cristina Kirchner,  corruption is a problem at the highest levels of the Argentinian government. US businesses  considering doing business in Argentina need to ensure that they have a robust compliance  program in place that covers the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and Bank Secrecy Act (BSA)  requirements. If considering partnering with a new company or individual in Argentina, companies should consider conducting a due diligence investigation to uncover any hidden risks  that could cause regulatory violations and even reputational damage to the company.  

            

Related Posts

  Iran in the context of the Middle East’s geopolitical situation has long provided both political risks and business opportunities. The oil and gas sector, service and agriculture sectors, and a “noticeable state presence in manufacturing and finance services” dominate Iran’s economy. Aiming to move Iran away from a heavily oil-dependent economy, Iranian authorities have […]
Read more
+
  Geopolitical threats affect businesses, organizations, governments, and even individuals around the world. As a business owner, these threats can affect your profits, your reputation, and even your ability to do business in certain countries. If you fail to identify and understand the geopolitical threats that affect your business, you’re likely to end up losing […]
Read more
+
As the conflict in Ukraine continues, Poland has played an increasingly important role in  mitigating tensions along NATO and the EU’s easternmost flank. Although Poland, Latvia,  Lithuania, and Estonia have jointly made-up Europe’s eastern front as NATO allies and members  of the EU for nearly 20 years, the strategic importance of their location has come […]
Read more
+
1 2 3 9

CLE Accredited Courses

Infortal’s Continuing Legal Education (CLE) courses are designed to equip executives, attorneys and risk managers with strategic insights to navigate the complex landscape of geopolitical risk. We cover topics such as international sanctions, regulatory risks, corporate espionage, AML, global warfare, anti-terrorist financing and corruption.

We can help you make informed decisions and mitigate potential risks for your business.
LEARN MORE