In a live interview with Alejandro Fantino, President Javier Milei addressed key issues related to Argentina’s economic and productive outlook, including mining, lithium, copper, uranium, and the country’s geopolitical alignment with the United States. While the president spoke on Monday night, the Minister of Economy announced a major measure for the productive sector: the elimination of the Certificate of Importation for Used Goods (CIBU), “a long-standing bureaucratic hurdle that for decades restricted the import of used machinery, even in strategic sectors like mining.”
By Panorama Minero
Mining, uranium and geopolitical opportunities
During the Neura streaming broadcast, Milei emphasized that Argentina is entering a new phase of global integration, marked by strong alignment with the United States. He mentioned support from the International Monetary Fund (US$20 billion), the World Bank (US$12 billion), and the Inter-American Development Bank (US$10 billion), along with an additional US$2 billion to be provided by Argentina’s Central Bank — a package that allowed the country to take initial steps toward lifting currency controls.
“They gave me more than US$15 billion — that’s why I lifted the controls.”
One of the highlights of the interview was Milei’s explanation of the partial lifting of the currency clamp. He said the move was made possible thanks to strong multilateral financial backing. Looking ahead, he expects a drop in the country risk and a realignment of interest rates.
“I said it at the time: If they give me more than US$15 billion, I’ll lift the controls. The IMF gave me 20, the IDB 10, and the World Bank 12,” Milei stated. He also commented on the tax amnesty: “It worked well, but people still aren’t used to spending their dollars. So, by absorbing pesos from the economy and not using those dollars, we risked a peso shortage that could lead to deflation or recession.”
The president also stressed the geopolitical value of certain resources, especially in today’s volatile international context. He made it clear that uranium, steel, and aluminum are off the table in bilateral negotiations with the U.S.:
“You can’t negotiate uranium or U.S. steel policy — that’s geopolitics. You’ll have Americans lining up to buy uranium,” he said. “If they come to buy it, I’ll sell it. These are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities — like rare earths or lithium. These resources should be used so that people can live well, not die like rats defending something they don’t even understand.”
Milei also touched on critical minerals like lithium and copper, highlighting Argentina’s potential to become a key global supplier in a world defined by technological change and geopolitical tension. He underscored the role of YPF, the potential of the energy sector, and praised Argentina’s agricultural industry as “the best in the world.”
He further noted that under his administration, Mercosur secured a 10% tariff deal with the United States, and that new bilateral trade talks are underway: “The U.S. Secretary of the Treasury met with me and expressed full support for the bold economic reforms.”
Meanwhile, in the Economy Ministry: Restrictions on used machinery imports are lifted
While Milei spoke live on air, the Economy Ministry was rolling out a long-awaited reform: the official elimination of the CIBU — a certificate required since the early 1990s for the import of used capital goods.
Under the new decree — soon to be published in the Official Gazette — importers will no longer need to process special permits or prove the absence of domestic manufacturers.
“This is a concrete relief for sectors that depend on capital goods — such as mining, energy, and industry,” said Economy Minister Luis Caputo.
The reform applies to oil and gas extraction equipment, industrial cutting tools, molding dies, machinery for the printing industry, and a range of other technologies, many of which are widely used by mining suppliers in Argentina.
