On November 13, 2025, Governments of Argentina and the United States issued a joint statement announcing the framework of a bilateral trade agreement. One of its central aspects is the improvement of intellectual property protection in Argentina, specifically aligning the Argentine intellectual property regime with international standards with the goal of joining the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
Argentina’s accession to the PCT is an outstanding issue that has been under discussion since 1998. While the announcement between the US and Argentina makes no mention of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), through this agreement Argentina commits to working to harmonize its legal framework with international standards, which is the first and essential step for joining the PCT.
The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) establishes a cost-effective means for companies and innovators to seek patent protection for their inventions in multiple countries worldwide, where a single application has the same legal effect as filing separate patent applications in each of the contracting states. Currently, PCT has 158 contracting states.
For more information about the PCT, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Carlos Baños
