European Commission Directorate-General for Trade

WT/DS438 - Argentina — Measures Affecting the Importation of Goods

Last update: 17/07/2012

• Complaint by: EU
• Complaint against: Argentina -
• Third parties:
  Australia - Canada - Guatemala - Japan - Mexico - Turkey - Ukraine - United States -

Summary of case:

Argentina applies various restrictive measures on imports which affect a wide range of products exported from Europe. The restrictive measures which importers in Argentina are confronted with include Argentina's import licensing regime and notably the procedures to obtain an import licence. Argentina also subjects the import of all goods to a pre-registration and pre-approval regime, called the "Declaración Jurada Anticipada de Importación". Since February 2012, this pre-approval requirement is applied to all imports. On the basis of these procedures, imports are systematically delayed or refused on non-transparent grounds. In early 2011, more than 600 product types were affected by this licence regime, such as electrical machinery, auto parts and chemical products. In addition to pre-registration and pre-approval Argentina requires importers to balance imports with exports, to increase the local content of the products they manufacture in Argentina, or not to transfer revenues abroad. This practice is systematic, non-written and non –transparent. Acceptance by importers to undertake this practice appears to be a condition for obtaining the license allowing imports of their goods. These measures delay or block goods at the border and inflict major losses to industry in the EU and worldwide.