G/LIC/N/3/ARG/17  
28 September  2021 
(21-7212) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON  
IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES  
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 7.3 OF THE AGREEMENT ON  
IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES  
NOTIFICATION FOR 2021  
ARGENTINA  
The following communication, dated 2 0 September 2 021, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the Republic of Argentina.  
 
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Outline of systems  
1.  Argentina currently has two types of import licensing system , one automatic and the other non -
automatic, both of which are established under Res olution No. 523/2017 of the former Secretariat 
for Trade and the supplementary  and amending regulations thereto, former Secretariat for Trade 
Resolutions No. 898/2017, No. 5-E/2018, No. 170/2018, No. 507/2018 and No. 526/2018, 
Secretariat for Industry, the Knowledge Economy and Foreign Trade Management Resolutions 
No. 1/2020, No. 133/2020 and No. 102/2021, and Undersecretariat for Trade Policy and 
Management Provisions No. 3/2020, No. 5/2020, No. 9/2020, No. 10/2020, No. 29/2020, 
No. 30/2020 No. 5/2021, No. 7/2021 and No. 21/2021.  
Purposes and coverage of licences  
2.  Goods classified under all MERCOSUR Common Nomenclature (NCM) tariff headings and intended 
for definitive entry for consumption are subject to automatic import licensing , with the exce ption of 
those listed in Annexes II to XIV to former Secretariat for Trade Resolution No. 523/2017, as clarified 
and amended by former Secretariat for Trade Resolutions No. 898/2017, No. 5-E/2018, 
No. 170/2018, No. 507/2018 and No. 526/2018, Secretariat for Industry, the Knowledge Economy 
and Foreign Trade Management Resolutions No. 1/2020 , No. 133/202 0 and No. 102/2021 , and 
Undersecretariat for Trade Policy and Management Provisions No. 3/2020, No. 5/2020, No. 9/2020, 
No. 10/2020, No. 29/2020 , No. 30/2020, No. 5/2021, No. 7/2021 and No. 21/2021, which are 
subject to non-automatic import licensing . 
3.  Both types of licences apply to goods of a ll origin s, without distinction.  
4.  Import licensing is not intended to restrict either the quantit y or the value of imports . The purpose 
of the automatic licensing system is to obtain an advance supply of descriptive statistical information 
for the historical records . The purpose of the non -automatic licensing system is to establish an 
appropriate prio r verification system for ensuring compliance with the conditions governing the 
importation of goods, in accordance with the provisions of Annexes II to XIV to former Secretariat 
for Trade Resolution No.  523/2017 and the supplementary and amending regulati ons thereto.  
 G/LIC/N/3/ARG/17  
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  5.  Argentina's import licensing system  is based on the following legislation:  
- 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 Jou rnal 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 -314999/31397 9/texact.htm  
- Former Secretariat 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 ( Official Journal  5/8/2020).  
http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/340000 -344999/340705/norma.htm  
- Undersecretariat for Trade Policy and Management  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 Manag ement  Provision No. 5/2020 
(Official  Journal  18/3/2020).  
http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/335000 -339999/335690/norma.htm  
- Unders ecretariat for Trade Policy and Management  Provision No. 9/2020 
(Official  Journal  20/5/2020)  
http://servicios.infoleg.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  
- Undersecret ariat 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  
- 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  
- Undersecretariat for Trade  Policy and Management  Provision No. 5/2021 
(Official  Journal  11/3/2021).  
http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/345000 -349999/347797/texact.htm  
- Undersecretariat for Trade Policy and Management  Provision No. 7/2021 
(Official  Journal  15/3/2021).  
http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/345000 -349999/347870/norma.htm  
- Secretariat for Industry, the Kn owledge Economy and Foreign Trade Management Resolution 
No. 102/2021 ( Official Journal 31/3/2021).  
http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/345000 -349999/348391/norma.htm  
- Undersecretariat for Trade Policy and Management Provision No. 21/20 21 
(Official  Journal  29/7/2021).  
http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/350000 -354999/352463/norma.htm  
 
The executive branch does not need  legislative approval to abolish the licensing system.  
 
Procedures  
6.  I-XI. Not applicable . The import licensing system established pursuant to the above -mentioned 
regulations  is not subject to quotas.  
7.  (a) Licences must be presented before the goods are cleared . 
(b)  The time limits for obtaining licences meet the requirements laid down in the regulations in 
force and fall within the maximum periods stipulated in Article 2.2(a)(iii), for automatic 
licensing , and Article 3.5(f), for non-automatic licensing , of the Agree ment on Import 
Licensing Procedures.  G/LIC/N/3/ARG/17  
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  (c)  There are no limitations as to the period of the year during which a licence application and/or 
importation may be made.  
 
(d) Pursuant to former Secretariat for Trade Resolution No. 523/2017, and the amendments 
thereto, the administrative body for the submission of import licence applications and the 
implementing authority for the system is the Undersecretariat for Trade Policy and 
Management, attached to the Secretariat for Industry, the Knowledge Economy and Forei gn 
Trade Management, under the Ministry of Production Development, and may, at any time 
during the procedure, request the involvement of the competent technical bodies, in 
accordance with Article 5 of the said Resolution.  
 
8.  The only reason for refusal is failure by applicants to meet the requirements set forth in the 
relevant regulations . Applicants are duly informed of the reasons for any refusal . All applicants have 
the right to plead an excuse before the assessment body.  
Eligibility of import ers to apply for licen ce 
9.  All persons, firms and institutions engaged in import activities and entered as such in the 
AFIP Register of Importers are eligible to apply for import licences . To obtain a non -automatic 
licence, registration in the Single Registe r of the Ministry of Production (RUMP), established pursuant 
to former Ministry of Production Resolution No. 442/2016 (Official Journal 8/9/2016) and the 
amending regulations thereto is also required.  
Documentational and other requirements for application for licence  
10.  Importers submitting applications for automatic import licences are required to use the 
Comprehensive Import Monitoring System (SIMI), as approved by Joint General Resolution 
No. 4.185 -E/2018 (Official Journal 8/1/2018) , and the supplementing a nd amending regulations 
thereto , of the Federal Public Revenue Administration and the former Secretariat for Trade , and to 
provide the information specified in Annex I to former Secretariat for Trade Resolution No. 523/2017 
and the supplementing and amendi ng regulations thereto.  
In addition to meeting the indicated requirement for automatic licences, interested parties 
submitting applications for non -automatic import licences must be enrolled on the Single Register of 
the Ministry of Production (RUMP), created under former Ministry of Production Resolution 
No. 442/2016 (Official Journal 9 September 2 016), and the amending regulations thereto , and enter 
into the system, for the tariff headings of the goods to be imported, the information specified  in 
Annexes II to XIV to former Ministry of Trade  Resolution No. 523/2017 and the supplementing and 
amending regulations thereto.  
 
This information, a s well as the tariff headings subject to the non -automatic licensing system, can 
be found in the updated text of Resolution No. 523/2017 , available at:  
 
http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/275000 -279999/276625/texact.htm  
 
In the event that the requirements described above are not duly met within 10 working days of 
registering the import licence request, the procedure will automatically b e cancelled and its status 
reflected in the system as "Baja Art. 4" ("Article 4 cancellation").  
 
For goods subject to non -automatic import licensing, the implementing authority may require the 
importer to provide any information and/or additional documents  listed in Annex XV to Resolution 
No. 523/2017 and the amendments thereto . It may also request the intervention of competent 
technical bodies, use background information from its own sources or those of third parties, and 
require, should it be deemed neces sary, clarifications . This information must be submitted within 
the time limits and conditions laid down in Article 6 of Resolution No. 523/2017 and its amending 
regulations.  
 G/LIC/N/3/ARG/17  
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  11.  All the information that importers are required to provide for import licence applications is set 
out in former Secretariat for Trade Resolution No. 523/2017 and the amending regulations thereto . 
The required forms and documents can be found at : http://www.afip.gob.ar/simi/  In addition , two 
explanatory manuals with detailed and updated information on licensing procedures can be found 
at: https://www.argentina.gob.ar/comprobar -licencias -automaticas -para-importaciones  
12.  Import licences are processed free of charge.  
13.  There is no deposit or advance payment requirement associated with the issue of import 
licences.  
Licensing conditions  
14.  Import licences are valid for 90 calendar days from the date of their approval in the SIMI . This 
period may be extended by the implementing authority, at the request of the interested party, with 
at least 15 days prior to expiry, and f or good reason.  
15.  There are no penalties for the non -utilization of a licence or portion of a licence.  
16.  Import licences are non -transferable.  
17.  (a) Not applicable.  
(b) No, only the requirements set forth in the above -mentioned regulations.  
 
Other procedural requirements  
18.  Certificates of compliance or exemption certificates, as appropriate, must be obtained in 
advance via the Integrated Foreign Trade System (SISCO) for goods covered by the provisions of 
former Secretariat for Industry, Trade and Smal l and Medium -Sized Enterprises of the former 
Ministry of the Economy and Production Resolutions No. 220/2003 and No. 153/2005 and the 
amendments and regulations thereto.  
19.  There is no relation between the import licensing system and the foreign currency exch ange 
system.  
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