As Latin America’s third-largest economy, Argentina has the scale and ambition to become a regional leader in innovation. Argentina’s aspirations to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and build a modern innovation economy creates a pivotal moment for its innovation ecosystem. 

While Argentina looks to join the OECD, it is facing other pressures to enhance its policy environment. This year’s inclusion on the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) Special 301 Priority Watch List—combined with potential upcoming trade negotiations—underscores the urgent need for Argentina to take intellectual property (IP) reform seriously.

Argentina’s inclusion in the USTR’s 2025 Special 301 report is not incidental. The market has persistent challenges including restrictive patentability criteria, lack of regulatory data protection and discriminatory reimbursement policies. 

These shortcomings not only discourage innovation but also jeopardize Argentina’s economic future. Without robust IP rights, Argentina risks falling behind in global trade and investment, especially as the OECD emphasizes strong IP protections as a cornerstone of economic competitiveness. Investors and innovators alike will look elsewhere if Argentina cannot safeguard their intellectual assets. In trade talks, Argentina’s credibility as a reliable partner is at stake and these deficiencies could undermine its broader economic and trade goals for years to come.

To unlock its potential as a regional leader in innovation, Argentina must act decisively and:

• Eliminate the 2012 Patentability Guidelines which make it virtually impossible to secure patents on key biopharmaceutical innovations;
• Provide adequate and effective regulatory data protection to support pharmaceutical R&D; and
• Modernize cost containment and reimbursement practices to fairly value innovation.

The convergence of three signals—inclusion on USTR’s priority watch list, OECD ambitions and looming trade talks—makes one thing clear: now is the moment for Argentina to act. IP reform is not just a legal necessity; it is a strategic choice to secure Argentina’s future as a dynamic player in the global economy.