Argentine Customs import and export policy

Summary

This article outlines Argentina's import and export policies, including its adherence to WTO principles and participation in multilateral trade agreements, as well as the trade policies of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR). It also provides a detailed account of Argentina's import restrictions, licensing system, quotas, Certificate of Origin requirements, and the tariff collection system.

Overview

Argentina is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), adhering to its principles and strictly implementing the relevant regulations of the organization.
Argentina is a party to multilateral agreements on trade in goods, the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), and the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
On March 26, 1991, Argentina, along with Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay, jointly initiated and established the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR). MERCOSUR allows for the free circulation of goods, services, and factors of production within its region; formulates and adopts common trade policies targeting countries or regional blocs outside the bloc; coordinates the positions of member countries in various regional and international trade negotiations; and promotes legislation among member countries to jointly drive and deepen the integration process of MERCOSUR.

1. Import Restrictions Argentina (2022 edition)

There are generally no import restrictions, except for certain used goods, but the following items are subject to prior approval by the Argentine government:
Cottonseed, potatoes for seeds, fresh fish, vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, apples in barrels, live poultry, poultry with hair, eggs, salted fish, dried fish, pesticides, livestock supplies, food, medicines, explosives, weapons, ammunition, plants and products, tobacco and saccharin, etc.

2.Import license

At the end of 2015, Argentina abolished the import pre-declaration system, but introduced the "integrated import monitoring system".
(SIMI). Under the system, more than 1,400 products are included in the category of non-automatic licenses and need to be approved.
As of June 2019, Argentina has eliminated 314 non-automatic license categories for products.
In January 2020, Argentina's Ministry of Production Development announced the resumption of the non-automatic import licensing system to strengthen import controls, including more than 300 products, including imported automobiles, auto parts, electronic products and home appliances, into the "non-automatic Import licensing" (LNA) product list, and reduced the validity of the license from 180 days to 90 days.
At the end of 2023, the Argentine government abolished the import red Channel, a previously strict customs inspection system for certain goods (such as textiles, footwear, electrical appliances, etc.). The relevant imported goods will now follow the random inspection procedures set up by the Customs for the entire tariff, greatly simplifying the import process.

3. Import quotas

There are temporary import quotas for pulp, paper products and certain items.

4.Certificate of Origin

One original and three copies of the Certificate of Origin are required. Certificate of origin for import of textiles, footwear, toys, etc Argentine consular certification is required.

5.Tariff collection system

Import tariffs in Argentina are divided into general tariffs and special tariffs, and special tariffs are mainly used in the Mercosur free trade zone
· Imports of goods from Member States. Currently, trade with China is subject to ordinary tariffs. The method of taxation is on the basis of the import tax rate of various commodities, plus 21% value-added tax and 10.5% additional value-added tax (all calculated on the basis of CIF price, the value of the goods is paid in advance when entering the customs, the importer can deduct the tax that has been paid in advance when the goods enter the customs after sale).