G/LIC/Q/ARG/20  
 
8 April 2021  
(21-2921) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English  
 
 
IMPORT LICENSING SYSTEM OF ARGENTINA  
QUESTIONS FROM THE UNITED STATES TO ARGENTINA  
The following communication, dated 6 April 2021, is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of the United States.  
 
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The United States thanks Argentina for the replies to previous questions and for notifying a number 
of laws and changes to procedure to the Committee on Import Licensing (CIL). The United States 
encourages continued transparency through further notifications.   
We continue to hear from importers about non -transparent and changing approval processes and 
requirements, as well as delays in processing times related to the import licensing system.  
In the interest of continuing our open exchange under this Committee, we seek additional 
clarification and updated information from Argentina. We again urge Argentina to implement its 
system in a transparent, fair, and equitable manner, and to avoid practices that could have avoidable 
trade -restrictive or distortive effects that may discourage investment or other economic activity 
important for Argentina 's long -term objectives.  
1. Is the below list the complete list of measures relevant to the import licensing system? If not, 
what additional measures are relevant? Have there been changes or new measures after 
Undersecretariat for Trade Policy and Management Provision No. 30/2020 was published on 
29 October 2020?  
- Former Secretariat for Trade Resolution No. 523/2017 (Official Journal 7/7/2017) : 
http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/275000 -279999/276625/texact.htm ; 
- Former Secretariat for Trade Resolution No. 898/2017 (Official Jo urnal 30/11/2017) : 
http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/290000 -294999/293790/norma.htm ; 
- Former Secretariat for Trade Resolution No. 5 -E/2018 (Official Journal 11/1/2018) : 
http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/305000 -309999/305752/norma.htm ; 
- Former Secretariat for Trade  Resolution No. 507/2018 (Official Journal 31/8/2018) : 
http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/310000 -314999/313979/texact.htm ; 
- Former S ecretariat for Trade Resolution No. 526/2018 (Official Journal 7/9/2018) : 
http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/310000 -314999/314238/norma.htm ; 
- Secretariat for Industry, the Knowledge Economy and Foreign Trade Management Resolution 
No. 1/2020 (Official Journal 9/1/2020) : 
http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/330000 -334999/333822/norma.htm ; 
- Secretariat for Industry, the Knowledge Economy and Foreign Trade Management Resolution 
No. 133/2020 (Of ficial Journal 5/8/2020) : 
http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/340000 -344999/340705/norma.htm ; 
- Undersecretariat for Trade Policy and M anagement Provision No. 3/2020 (Official Journal 
12/3/2020) : http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/335000 -
339999/335387/norma.htm ; 
- Undersecretariat for Trade Policy and Management Provision No. 5/2020 (Official Journal 
18/3/2020) : http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/335 000-
339999/335690/norma.htm ; G/LIC/ Q/ARG/20  
 
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  - Undersecretariat for Trade Policy and Management Provision No. 9/2020 (Official Journal 
20/5/2020) : http://servicios.infole g.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/335000 -
339999/337775/norma.htm ;  
- Undersecretariat for Trade Policy and Management Provision No. 10/2020 (Official Journal 
22/5/2020) : http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/335000 -
339999/337892/norma.htm ; 
- Undersecretariat for Trade Policy and Management Provision No. 29/2020 (Official Journal 
21/10/2020) : http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/340000 -
344999/343411/norma.htm ; and  
- Undersecretariat for Trade Policy and Management Provision No. 30/2020 (Official Journal 
29/10/2020) : http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/340000 -
344999/343670/norma.htm . 
2. With respect to the goods covered by non -automatic import licensing, what is the current 
number of tariff lines subject to non -automatic licensing? Do the tariff lines subject to non -
automatic licensing relate to particular sectors or industries?  
3. As a follow up to the response to Question 5 in November 2020, p lease provide:  
(a) Data by volume and value for the percentage of imports to Argentina covered by 
automatic import licensing and by non -automatic licensing for the full calendar year 
2020 and year to date 2021; and  
(b) Data by volume and value on the distr ibution of non -automatic licenses by HS code for 
2019 and 2020.  
4. With respect to the application process, the United States requests additional clarification on 
information that may be requested from applicants.  
(a) Are requests for information from impo rters limited to the information listed in Annex  XV 
of Resolution No. 523/2017?   
(b) In 2020 or 2021 did Argentina not grant an application for non -automatic import 
licensing for an applicant that provided all information necessary according to published 
application instructions?  
(c) In the response to Question 3(c) in November 2020, Argentina indicated ability to 
request additional information "…is important for the purpose of obtaining additional 
information that allows for the improved surveil lance of import operations and the more 
efficient monitoring of the applicant 's compliance with the requirements established in 
the relevant regulations. " How does Argentina limit such requests? Are such information 
requests used only to evaluate completen ess of applications in accordance with 
published requirements? Do such requests pertain to information outside the original 
application, for example, information pertaining to the wider business operations of an 
applicant? Is there a scope to these additio nal information requests?  
5. With respect to the time for an applicant to provide information, the response to Question  3(e) 
in November 2020 states that applicants have 10 working days to provide the information 
requested information to the implementing authority, and a further 5 days to modify, correct, 
or complete the request if the information provided is deemed incomplete or fails to meet the 
requirements.   
(a) Within how many days after the applicant submits the information would the 
implementing aut hority provide a response?  
(b) Can the implementing authority make additional requests for information after that 5-
day period expires?  
(c) If the applicant responds during the 5 -day period, but implementing authority seeks 
additional information or deems  the application incomplete, what is the process for the 
applicant to continue the process and have the application approved?  
(d) If an application is cancelled but the applicant still seeks a non -automatic import license, 
does the applicant need to resubm it all information if it reapplies, or can the applicant 
rely on information already possessed by the implementing authority?  G/LIC/ Q/ARG/20  
 
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  6. In response to 4 (a) and 4(b) in November 2020, Argentina notes that license applicants have 
rights to administrative appeal an d appeal before the ordinary courts.  
(a) What is the procedure for administrative appeal? How long is the process, and are 
expedited procedures available? What legal criteria and factual record are used to 
evaluate the decision of the implementing authori ty? 
(b) What is the procedure for appeal to ordinary courts?  Are expedited procedures 
available?  What legal criteria and factual record are used in an administrative appeal to 
evaluate the decision of the implementing authority?  
7. The response to Question  6 in November 2020 covered non -automatic importation licenses 
(NAL) requests accepted and rejected for 2019 and 2020. The response indicated that in 2020 
84.1% of NAL requests were approved and .2% of NAL requests were rejected. What was the 
outcome of th e remaining 15.7% of NAL applications?   
8. As an update for the information provided in November 2020, please provide statistical 
information, for both automatic and non -automatic licenses, on:  
(a) Number of applications ; 
(b) Percentage accepted ; 
(c) Perce ntage rejected ; and 
(d) Processing time (averages, minimum, and maximum) for applications.  
Please provide this information on an annual basis for 2020 and 2021 year to date.  
9. With respect to any further changes to the import licensing system:  
(a) Is Argentina considering further changes to its import licensing system since its last set 
of responses? What changes, if any, are under consideration?  
(b) Will Argentina consider reducing the scope of imports affected by non -automatic import 
licensing re quirements?  
(c) Will Argentina consult with stakeholders in advance of implementation of any changes? 
What process will Argentina use to request and review comments from stakeholders on 
possible changes?   
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