On February 5, 2026, the US and Argentina announced a trade agreement that will require Argentina to ensure protection of intellectual property flowing physically or online from the United States; including trademark and copyright enforcement.
Other goods and services identified under this Agreement include agricultural products, meats and cheeses, motor vehicles, medical devices and pharmaceuticals.
According to reporting from iProfessional of Buenos Aires, planned actions include more raids, confiscations of merchandise and inspection in informal sales centers known as “Saladitas.” Other anticipated countermeasures will include domain blockades, suspension of services, confiscation of equipment and economic sanctions.
Intellectual property
Specific to copyright infringement, “Argentina shall provide a robust standard of protection for intellectual property. ** Argentina shall provide effective systems for civil, criminal, and border enforcement of intellectual property rights and shall ensure that such systems combat and deter the infringement or misappropriation of intellectual property, including in the online environment. Argentina shall prioritize and shall take effective criminal and border enforcement actions against copyright and trademark infringements.”
In addition, “Argentina shall facilitate digital trade with the United States, including by refraining from measures that discriminate against U.S. digital services or products distributed digitally. The Parties shall collaborate to address cybersecurity challenges.”
Anti-piracy measures
Argentina commits to address a range of intellectual property issues called out in the Office of the US Trade Representative’s Special 301 report, to improve enforcement against counterfeit and pirated goods, including in the online environment.
These include:
- Setting up a coordination body for IP enforcement agencies to coordinate efforts among all IP enforcement agencies to combat all forms of IP crimes, including online piracy;
- Enacting legislation that provides for effective civil action, including injunctions where appropriate, against copyright piracy that occurs in the online environment in a timely fashion;
- Investigating and bringing criminal prosecutions against operators of Argentina-based websites that engage in criminal copyright piracy on a commercial scale.
Conformance to international treaties
Argentina agrees to fully implement multiple international agreements relating to intellectual property, including:
- Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, done at Berne on September 9, 1886, as revised at Paris on July 24, 1971;
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty, done at Geneva on December 20, 1996;
- WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty, done at Geneva on December 20, 1996;
Argentina will also submit Convention Relating to the Distribution of Programme-Carrying Signals Transmitted by Satellite, done at Brussels on May 21, 1974; to Congress for consideration and a vote on ratification before the end of 2027.
Effective date
The Agreement shall go into effect 60 days (or another agreed interval) after written notices are exchanged between the countries, certifying completion of applicable legal procedures.
Why it matters
While the Agreement includes a lengthy list of goods and associted tarriffs, this Agreement is also about the protected flow of data and intellectual property between the two countries.
Further reading
United States of America – Argentine Republic Agreement on Reciprocal Trade and Investment. Policy document (PDF). February 2, 2026. Office of the US Trade Representative.
US-Argentina agreement on reciprocal trade and investment. Press release (with links to Agreement, Tarriff Schedule, Joint Statement and Fact Sheet. February 5, 2026. US Embassy in Argentina
Bye, free soccer? What works for free today could no longer be available. Article. February 9, 2026. by L.C. iProfessional (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
** Concerning all categories of intellectual property under Sections 1 through 7 of Part II of the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights; including matters related to technological protection measures and rights management information.
