Argentina and the United States discuss Geographical Indication Protection

By Estudio Chaloupka

On June 5, 2024, Argentina and the United States concluded the fourth meeting of the Trade and Investment Council under the U.S. – Argentina Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA). 

Each side was accompanied by a broad interagency team, including the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and representatives of the Argentinian Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Economy, and the Secretariats of Mining, Health, Commerce, Bioeconomy, Regulatory Strategic Planning, Labor, and the Central Bank of Argentina.

According to the U.S. Embassy in Argentina, the countries shared their ambition to deepen bilateral trade relations and noted the important role of bilateral engagement in diversifying regional supply chains for long-term, sustainable growth. They further discussed the importance of transparency, good governance, high labor standards, and environmental sustainability to support trade, investment and workers in both the United States and Argentina.

On agriculture, they decided to continue discussing market access interests on both sides. They decided to convene at the technical level in the next quarter to review the status of pending issues and continue regular engagement to resolve concerns. Regarding the access of Argentine sweet citrus fruits to the United States, Argentina underlined its work to comply with U.S. requirements for imports of sweet citrus, and its hope that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will publish the Pest Risk Assessment soon. The two sides also discussed the importance of ensuring that the grant of Geographical Indication protection does not deprive interested parties of the ability to use common names.

Argentina also expressed its determination to join the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity, a framework for economic cooperation among countries in the Américas that looks to boost economic growth throughout the region and strengthen economic ties between member countries.

During the meeting, they discussed practical steps to advance transparent regulatory processes and simplify border processes. Argentina noted that it intends to convene its National Committee on Trade Facilitation (NTFC) and support the Key Principles of Shared Practice of Successful NTFCs in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on Trade Facilitation. The two countries discussed the importance of full implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement and, with a view to full implementation, both re-committed to reviewing their customs fees and procedures with the aim of reducing the time and cost of compliance for traders and operators.