What’s driving Chinese trade and investment into Argentina?
Over the years, there has been unabated interest of Chinse parties in strategic areas of investments in Argentina: energy, infrastructure and natural resources, which fall within both Chinese and Argentine governments’ priorities in promoting investment and mutual cooperation. With our rich expertise and unique experience in advising Chinese companies in the relevant industries, Beretta Godoy is ready and willing to be your trusted Argentine counsel in building a future together.
How is Beretta Godoy positioning itself to help clients capitalise on these opportunities?
Beretta Godoy works extensively with Chinese companies, in particular state-owned enterprises with strategic operations in Argentina. Having advised numerous Chinese investors in their projects, we thoroughly understand the legal, commercial, cultural and linguistic challenges they face in Latin America’s business environment. Our trilingual team of professionals fluent in Spanish, English and Chinese works seamlessly with the clients’ legal team and external PRC counsel in delivering practical advice and service that address these challenges.
What are some of the challenges Latin American entities need to be mindful of when engaging with PRC counterparties?
Under the bilateral investment treaty between China and Argentina, Chinese investors are entitled to the protection against discrimination, the guarantee of fair and equitable treatment and against expropriation, and the right to freely transfer their returns out of Argentina. Further bilateral framework agreement and protocols are in place with a view to promoting investment cooperation, highlighting priority areas such as energy generation, telecommunications, land transport and port infrastructure, etc. Direct award to state-owned enterprises of infrastructure projects in these areas is possible upon the fulfilment of certain conditions set out in the relevant treaties.
Recent experience and representative matters
We have advised, among others, China National Nuclear Corporation on the construction of a HPR1000 [Hualong-1 pressurised water reactor] nuclear power plant, China Gezhouba Group Corporation on the construction of a 1300 megawatt hydroelectric project, and Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and Ganfeng Lithium on the investment in lithium mining projects.
We also assisted China Machinery and Engineering Corporation in the negotiation of an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) and works contract with the Argentine government for the rehabilitation of a 1500km railway line; China Petroleum Pipeline in a project for the construction of 390 km of trunk pipelines; China Water Resources Beifang Investigation, Design and Research Co. in a public tender for a hydroelectric project; the Metallurgical Corporation of China (MCC) in the licensing aspects of an iron ore facility, including its electric supply; and China Energy Engineering Group Tianjin Electric Power Construction in its landing in Argentina.