Hydroelectricity and coal meet the bulk of the country's energy requirements. The structure of the economy was characterised by major state involvement until the Menem government started to dismantle the public sector, selling off some industries and opening others to competition. The other key components of economic policy were the fixing of the Peso's value to the Dollar and an overhaul of the country's financial system. The present government has done little to vary the essentials of economic policy-making. However, after a decade of steady growth, the economy has been static during 2000.
Brazil is the largest of Argentina's South American trading partners.
There are also important trading relationships with the USA, which is the main source of manufactured products, and the countries of the former Soviet Union, which buy large quantities of grain. Business cards are usually given and business people expect to deal with someone of equal status. Punctuality is expected by visitors. Literature is in Spanish although many Argentinian business people speak English as a second language.