Just a few months after the IMF announced in June what was a record-setting $50 billion, 36-month bailout agreement with Argentina, the International Monetary Fund said it would expand the credit line to $57 billion in an attempt to halt the economic and financial crisis that has sent the country’s currency plunging over 50% this year, and pummeled the third-largest Latin American economy. In exchange, Argentina will set a “no intervention” zone for the peso from 34 to 44, meaning the exchange rate will be flexible but not floating.
The revised standby agreement is “aimed at bolstering confidence and stabilizing the economy,” IMF chief Christine Lagarde said Wednesday in a joint statement with Argentine Economy Minister Nicolas Dujovne.
The agreement, which is subject to IMF Executive Board approval, “front loads IMF financing, increasing available resources by US$19 billion through the end of 2019, and brings the total amount available under the program to US$57.1 billion through 2021”, according to the statement.
Argentina had started renegotiating the terms of the bailout deal last month when it became obvious that the original funds would be insufficient, and when President Mauricio Macri asked to speed up payments in the original agreement. Meanwhile, as part of the deal, Argentina would be required to fulfill certain stipulations under the agreement, which would need congressional approval by way of the 2019 budget. In exchange, the IMF would cover a significant portion of Argentina’s financing through next year, according to Moody’s.
As part of the government’s efforts to cut its debt, which is projected to reach 70% of GDP next year. Macri and finance minister, Nicolas Dujovne unveiled economic reforms earlier this month, including highly unpopular spending cuts and export tax increases demanded by the IMF. However, balancing the budget as Buenos Aires has promised, will prove difficult for Macri as elections near and the program will be frowned upon by all local politicians. According to the local media, with an approval rating that tumbled below 40% this year, there’s a possibility the conservative, whose campaign focused on free-market reforms, may not be re-elected.
