United States disputes Argentina’s import restrictions before WTO  

December 6: The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) today announced that the United States has requested that the World Trade Organization (WTO) establish a dispute settlement panel to examine Argentina’s import restrictions on all U.S. goods imported into Argentina.

According to the USTR release, Argentina imposes broad use of non-transparent and discretionary import licensing requirements that have the effect of unfairly restricting U.S. exports, and further disadvantages U.S. exports by requiring importers to agree to undertake “burdensome trade balancing commitments” (e.g., agreeing to export a certain value of Argentine goods, in exchange for authorization to import U.S. goods).


The United States previously requested WTO consultations with Argentina in August 2012, with consultations held in September 2012, but the consultations did not resolve the dispute.


The USTR compliant notes that:


  • Since 2008, Argentina has greatly expanded the list of products subject to non-automatic import licensing requirements.
  • Import licenses are required for approximately 600 eight-digit tariff lines in Argentina’s goods schedule.
  • In February 2012, Argentina adopted an additional licensing requirement that applies to all imports of goods into the country. The affected products include laptops, home appliances, air conditioners, tractors, machinery and tools, autos and auto parts, agricultural products, plastics, chemicals, tires, toys, footwear, textiles and apparel, luggage, bicycles, and paper products.
  • In conjunction with these licensing requirements, Argentina adopted informal trade balancing requirements and other schemes, whereby companies seeking to obtain authorization to import products must agree to export goods of an equal or greater value, make investments in Argentina, lower prices of imported goods, and/or refrain from repatriating profits.

Read the USTR release: United States Requests WTO Panel in Case Against Argentina’s Widespread Use of Import Restrictions



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