Argentina
General Information
& Brief Economic Summary
Standards
US
Contacts in Argentina
Argentine
Government Contacts
Trade Associations
and Other Key Contacts
Trade Event
Schedule
General Information
& Brief Economic Summary
Argentina posted real GDP growth of 8.8 percent in 2003, 9.0 percent in 2004, 9.2 percent in 2005, 8.4 percent in 2006, and an estimated 8.5 percent in 2007. Argentina should continue to perform well, with the Central Bank of Argentina’s consensus survey forecasting 6.6 percent real GDP growth for 2008.
Argentina is a founding member of the Association for Latin American Integration (ALADI-Associación Latinoamericana de Integración) which was created with the long-term goal of establishing a Latin American Common Market. Argintina is also a member of the Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR-Mercado Común del Sur), which includes Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela joined the pact as associate members. Venezuela was accepted as a full-fledged member in July 2006, and has four years to adapt to the MERCOSUR Common External Tariff scheme. As a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Argentina signed the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), affirming its obligations, relative to technical regulations and conformity assessment procedurers.
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Standards
The Argentine Standards Institute (Instituto Argentino de Normalizacion - IRAM) is the official national standards development body for the Republic of Argentin and the Argentine Accreditation Organization (Organismo Argention de Acreditaticion - OAA) is the accreditation body. No other organizations fulfill these functions in Argentina. While many IRAM standards are compatible with U.S. standards, many others are patterned after requirements of various European countries. In Argentina, most standards are voluntary. The buyer and seller share responsibility in determining what product standard is applicable. Products conforming to U.S. standards may, or may not be acceptable. Reflecting long-standing tradition and practice, products that meet European requirements are often preferred.
IRAM, Instituto Argentino de Normalizacion Peru 552/556 (C1068AAB) Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone: (54-11) 43 46 06 00 Fax: (54-11) 43 46 06 01
Email: iram4@sminter.com.ar Web Site: http://www.iram.com.ar
Contact: Ing. Jose Francisco Lopez. Director General
Argentine Standards Institute
AMN. Asociacion MERCOSUR de Normalizacion
Av. Auro Soares de Moura Andrade 664
01156-001 Sao Paulo - SP (Brazil)
Phone: (55-11) 3823-4603 Fax: (55-11) 3826-3724
Email: secretaria@amn.org.br Web Site: http://amn.org.br
MERCOSUR Standards Association
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US Contacts in
Argentina
U.S. EMBASSY IN ARGENTINA
Av. Colombia 4300 (C1425GMN) Buenos Aires
Phone: (54-11) 5777-4533
http://usembassy.state.gov/buenosaires
U.S. Department of State
Earl Anthony Wayne, Ambassador
Thomas Kelly, Deputy Chief of Mission
Douglas Climan, Counselor for Economic Affairs
Alex Featherstone, Counselor for Politcal Affairs
Robert Banks, Counselor for Public Affairs
Susan Abeyta, Consul General
Mailing Address:
U.S. Embassy, Buenos Aires
Unit 4334
APO AA34034
U.S. Department of Commerce
Brian Brisson, Senior Commercial Officer
Charles Ranado, Commercial Attaché
Mailing Address:
U.S. Commercial Service
U.S. Embassy Buenos Aires
3130 Buenos Aires Pl.
Washington, DC 20521-3130
Phone: (54-11) 5777-4753
Fax: (54-11) 5777-4203
Email:
Buenos.Aires.Office.Box@mail.doc.gov
www.buyusa.gov/argentina/en
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Argentine
Government Contacts
MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA
(Ministry of Economy and Production)
Lic. Martin Lousteau, Minister
Hipolito Yrigoyen 250, Piso 5, Of. 550
C1086AAB Buenos Aires
Switchboard (54-11) 4349-5000
Tel: (54-11) 4349-8801/02/03/05/60
Fax: (54-11) 4349-8815
Internet: http://www.mecon.gov.ar
Email: /edinfpub@mecon.gov.ar / secpriv@mecon.gov.ar
SECRETARIA DE POLITICA ECONOMICA
(Secretariat of Economic Policy)
Lic. Gastón Leonardo Rossi, Secretary
Hipolito Yrigoyen 250, Piso 5, Of. 526
C1086AAB Buenos Aires
Phone: (54-11) 4349-5762/5760/5770
Fax: (54-11) 4349-5763
Email: spe@mecon.gov.ar / PinSau@mecon.gov.ar
Internet: www.mecon.gov.ar/prgmacri.htm
SECRETARIA DE INDUSTRIA
(Secretariat of Industry Commerce and SME’s)
Cont. Fernando Javier Fraguio, Secretary
Av. Julio A. Roca 651, Piso 2, Of. 204/206
C1067ABB Buenos Aires
Phone: (54-11) 4349-3000/3407/08
Fax: (54-11) 4349-3477
Internet: http://www.mecon.gov.ar/sicym
Email: privadasicyp@mecon.gov.ar
SUBSECRETARIA DE COMERCIO
(Secretariat of Trade and International Economic Affairs)
Amb. Alfredo Vicente Chiaradia, Secretary
Esmeralda 1212, Piso 8
C1007ABP Buenos Aires
Tel: (54-11) 4819-7227/7001/7109
Fax: (54-11) 4819-7226
Email: mtd@mrecic.gov.ar
Internet: http://www.cancilleria.gov.ar
MINISTERIO DE RELACIONES EXTERIORES,
COMERCIO INTERNACIONAL Y CULTO
(Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship)
Canciller Jorge Enrique Taiana, Minister
Esmeralda 1212, Piso 13
C1007ABP Buenos Aires
Phone: (54-11) 4819-7317
Switchboard: (54-11) 4310-8100
Internet: http://www.cancilleria.gov.ar and www.mrecic.gov.ar
Email: btc@mrecic.gov.ar
SECRETARIA DE COMERCIO, RELACIONES ECONOMICAS
INTERNACIONALES Y ASUNTOS CONSULARES
(Secretariat of Trade, International Economic Relations and Consular Affairs)
Amb. Alfredo Vicente Chiaradia, Secretary
Esmeralda 1212, Piso 8
C1007ABP Buenos Aires
Phone: (54-11) 4819-7227
Fax: (54-11) 4819-7226
Email: mtd@mrecic.gov.ar
Internet: http://www.cancilleria.gov.ar
DIRECCION GENERAL DE ADUANAS (DGA)
(Customs Bureau)
Lic. Ricardo Echegaray, Director General
(Administracion Federal de Ingresos Publicos - AFIP)
Azopardo 350
C1107ADD Buenos Aires
Phone: (54-11) 4338-6400/6640
Fax: (54-11) 4347- 3651
Email: dga.privada@afip.gov.ar
Internet: http://www.afip.gov.ar/
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Trade Associations &
Other Contacts
CAMARA ARGENTINA DE COMERCIO
(Argentine Chamber of Commerce)
Mr. Carlos Raul De la Vega, President
Av. Leandro .N. Alem 36
C1003AAN Buenos Aires
Switchboard: (54-11) 5300-9000
Phone: (54-11) 5300-9082
Fax: (54-11) 5300-9059
Email: cac@cac.com.ar
Internet: http://www.cac.com.ar
CAMARA DE COMERCIO DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS EN ARGENTINA
(American Chamber of Commerce in Argentina)
Mr. Juan Bruchou, President
Alejandro Diaz, CEO
Viamonte 1133, Piso 8
1053ABW Buenos Aires
Phone: (54-11) 4371-4500
Fax: (54-11) 4371-8400
Email: amcham@amchamar.com.ar
Internet: http://www.amchamar.com.ar
UNION INDUSTRIAL ARGENTINA
(Argentine Industry Association)
Dr. Jose Ignacio de Mendiguren, President
Av. Leandro N. Alem 1067, Pisos 10 y 11
C1001AAF Buenos Aires
Tel: (54-11) 4313-2561/2611
Fax: (54-11) 4313-2413
Email: uia@oct.net.ar
Internet: http://uia.org.ar
CAMARA DE IMPORTADORES DE LA REPUBLICA ARGENTINA
(Argentine Chamber of Importers)
Mr. Diego Perez Santisteban, President
Av. Belgrano 427, Piso 7
C1092AAE Buenos Aires
Phone: (54-11) 4342-1101/0523
Fax: (54-11) 4345-3003
Email: cira@cira.org.ar & gg@cira.org.ar
Internet: www.cira.org.ar
ASOCIACION DE IMPORTADORES Y EXPORTADORES DE LA REPUBLICA
ARGENTINA (AIERA)
(Association of Argentine Importers and Exporters)
Mr. Horacio Consolo, President
Av. Belgrano 124, piso 1
C1092AAO Buenos Aires
Tel: (54-11) 4342-0010
Fax: (54-11) 4342-1312
Email: aiera@aiera.org.ar
Internet: http://www.aiera.org.ar
CAMARA DE COMERCIO EXTERIOR DE CORDOBA
(Chamber of Foreign Trade of Cordoba)
Mr. Ercole Jose Felippa, President
Rosario De Santa Fe 231, Piso 4, Of. 9
5000 Cordoba
Phone: (54-351) 421-4804/2715
Fax: (54-351) 4243-3869
Email: cacec@cacec.comar & gerencia@cacec.com.ar
Internet: http://www.cacec.com.ar
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Trade Event
Schedule
Logisti-K Argentina 2008
June 24-27, 2008
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Email: Logisti-k@expotrade.com.ar
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*This guide is not a complete list of trade associations or
publications. We welcome any additions to this document. The
Material Handling Industry does not assume a legal liability or
responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of
the information contained herein. The listing of information
here does not reflect an endorsement of any of the particular
information by the Material Handling Industry.