BUENOS AIRES – Argentina’s national government and the governors of 20 provinces signed a mining deal on Tuesday to harmonize taxes and regulations in hopes of attracting investment, but the action was criticized by industry sources and environmentalists alike.
The agreement, which needs approval from Congress and the 20 provincial legislatures, sets a 3 percent ceiling on royalties mining companies pay to provinces.
“It’s an activity that could be one of the pillars of job creation,” President Mauricio Macri said of mining at the signing ceremony. “We can develop it with perfect care of the environment.”
Latin America’s third-largest economy has fallen behind Chile and Peru in attracting mining investment despite rich deposits of copper, gold, silver and zinc. Macri’s center-right government has been trying since last year to unify regulations to woo foreign miners.
Shortly after taking office, Macri eliminated export taxes on metals and lifted a prohibition on companies sending profits overseas, two moves celebrated by the sector. But seven of the country’s 23 provinces still prohibit certain practices, like open-pit mining and the use of cyanide, crucial to extraction.
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