UNLOCKING THE FUTURE: MINING INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN LITHIUM, GOLD, AND COPPER – A STRATEGIC PERSPECTIVE FROM ARGENTINA TO THE UNITED STATES

By Sergio Alejandro Bustos, Attorney  |Realtor and Broker (Mines) | Specialist in International Law, Foreign Trade, and Immigration | Licensed Public Auctioneer and Appraiser | Founder, Sergio A. Bustos LLC (Miami)

In the current global landscape, the strategic relevance of critical minerals such as lithium, gold, and copper has never been greater. As the world transitions to a green economy, these resources are at the epicenter of the geopolitical, economic, and technological transformation that defines this decade. Argentina, endowed with vast reserves and legal flexibility, has emerged as a key global supplier and investment destination. Based on my legal, technical, and commercial experience in Argentina and the United States, I believe we are at a unique historic juncture.

A Binational Legal and Commercial Approach to Mining Investment

Having litigated and advised across jurisdictions, I combine the legal and operational perspectives of two markets: Argentina and the United States. In Argentina, I have provided counsel in mining disputes, property evaluations, and legal structuring for mineral rights transfer, including in Salta, Catamarca, and Jujuy — the heart of the Lithium Triangle. In the U.S., through my firm Sergio A. Bustos LLC, I advise foreign investors in matters of due diligence, entity creation, investment visa structuring, and export financing. This dual framework is essential. On one side, Argentina offers mineral wealth and tax incentives. On the other, the United States provides financial mechanisms and a strong rule of law that can structure, protect, and globalize the investment.

Geopolitical Importance: Why Lithium, Gold, and Copper Matter

- Lithium is the backbone of the energy transition. From electric vehicles to grid storage, its global demand is expected to quadruple by 2030.

- Gold is not just a safe-haven asset; it also has emerging uses in electronics and medicine, while acting as an inflation and geopolitical hedge.

- Copper is vital for electrical conductivity and is foundational for renewable energy infrastructure.

In this triad, Argentina is not merely a supplier but a geopolitical actor with strategic leverage, especially as U.S. and EU companies seek to diversify away from China.

The Argentine Advantage: Legal Certainty and Tax Competitiveness

Argentina offers a hybrid regulatory framework, where mining law is a matter of provincial jurisdiction but supported by federal investment protections, including:

- Law 24.196 on Mining Investments

- Bilateral investment treaties (BITs) with over 50 countries

- Export tax benefits and VAT recovery mechanisms

- The ability to denominate contracts in foreign currency

As an appraiser and auctioneer, I also emphasize the valuation potential of underexplored lots, which can be prequalified and tokenized for capital markets.

Legal Instruments: Contracts and Structures

My experience in drafting international contracts (including Offtake Agreements, Joint Ventures, and Royalty Agreements) has proven critical for clients seeking to mitigate risk and maximize returns. Legal engineering must go hand in hand with geological expertise. Cross-border asset protection trusts, Delaware LLCs, and irrevocable mandates are tools I regularly deploy to structure and safeguard operations.

Foreign Trade and Investor Facilitation

Argentina’s current foreign exchange regulations require expert navigation. Through my advisory work, I assist investors in:

- Registering as foreign direct investors (FDI)

- Accessing preferential foreign currency exchange mechanisms ("MEP Dollar")

- Repatriating dividends legally and efficiently

- Exporting mining outputs under FOB conditions

Additionally, my training in immigration law allows me to advise on investor visas (EB-5, E-2, or regional equivalents) for those who wish to operate in both hemispheres.

A Window of Opportunity

Today, global capital seeks assets with intrinsic and geopolitical value. Argentina offers precisely that in lithium, gold, and copper. But it also demands legal and technical precision, local expertise, and binational strategic thinking.

The convergence of mining potential, legal flexibility, and global necessity makes this the perfect moment to invest. My work is not merely transactional, but strategic. I build bridges between continents, law and commerce, energy and ethics.

Invest in the ground, but also in the framework that turns natural resources into global opportunity.