G/LIC/N/3/ARG/18   
26 September 2022  
(22-7201) 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  2022 
ARGENTINA  
The following notification, dated 14 September 2022, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation 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 Resolution No. 5 23/2017 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 Ec onomy and Foreign Trade Management Resolutions 
No. 1/2020, No. 133/2020 and No. 102/2021, and Under -Secretariat 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, No . 21/2021, No. 35/2021, No. 36/2021, No.  38/2021, 
No. 8/2022 and No. 9/2022, and Secretariat for Trade Resolution No. 1/2022.  
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 exception of 
those listed in Annex II to former Secretariat for Trade Resolution No. 523/2017, as clarified and 
amended by former Secretariat for Trade Resolutions No. 8 98/2017, No.  5-E/2018, No.  170/2018, 
No. 507/2018 and No. 526/2018, former Secretariat for Industry, the Knowledge Economy and 
Foreign Trade Management Resolutions No. 1/2020, No. 133/2020 and No. 102/2021, and Under -
Secretariat for Trade Policy and Manage ment 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, No. 21/2021, No. 35/2021, 
No. 36/2021, No. 38/2021, No. 8/2022 and No. 9/2022, and Secretariat for Trade Resolution 
No. 1/2022, which are sub ject to non-automatic import licensing . 
3. Both types of licence apply to goods of all origins, without distinction.  
4. Import licensing is not intended to restrict either the quantity or the value of imports. The purpose 
of the automatic licensing regime is to obtain an advance supply of descriptive statistical information 
for the historical records. The purpose of the non -automatic licensing regime is to establish an 
appropriate prior verification system for ensuring compliance with the c onditions governing the 
importation of goods, in accordance with the provisions of Annex II to former Secretariat for Trade 
Resolution No. 523/2017 and the supplementary and amending regulations thereto.  
5. The legal basis of the Argentine import licensing  system consists of former Secretariat for Trade 
Resolution No. 523/2017 (Official Journal of 7 July 2017) , as clarified and amended by  former G/LIC/N/3/ARG/18  
 
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  Secretariat for Trade Resolutions No. 898/2017, No. 5 -E/2018, No. 170/2018, No. 507/2018 and 
No. 526/2018, former  Secretariat for Industry, the Knowledge Economy and Foreign Trade 
Management Resolutions No.  1/2020, No. 133/2020 and No. 102/2021, and Under -Secretariat for 
Trade Policy and Management Provisions No. 3/2020, No. 5/2020, No. 9/2020, No. 10/2020, 
No. 29/20 20, No.  30/2020, No. 5/2021, No. 7/2021, No. 21/2021, No. 35/2021, No. 36/2021, 
No. 38/2021, No. 8/2022 and No. 9/2022, and Secretariat for Trade Resolution No. 1/2022.  
The updated text of Resolution No. 523/2017 may be viewed at:  
http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/275000 -279999/276625/texact.htm  
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 exception of 
those tariff headings listed in Annex II to former Secretariat for Trade Resolution No. 523/2017 and 
the supplementary and amending regulations thereto, which are subject to non -automatic import 
licensing. The executive branch does not need legislative approval to abolish the licensing regime. 
The Under -Secretariat fo r Trade Policy and Management of the Secretariat for Trade , under the 
Ministry of the Economy , is the implementing authority and is empowered to issue the 
supplementary regulations necessary for implementation, and to make changes to the universe of 
goods subject to automatic and non -automatic import licensing.  
Procedures  
6. I-XI. Not applicable. The import licensing regime 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 Agreement on Import 
Licensing Procedures.  
(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 su pplementary 
and amending regulations thereto, the administrative body for the submission of import 
licence applications and the implementing authority for the system is the Under -Secretariat 
for Trade Policy and Management, attached to the Secretariat for Trade, under the Ministry of 
Economy, and may, at any time during the procedure, request the involvement of the 
competent technical bodies, in accordance with Article 5 of  the aforementioned  Resolution.  
8. The only reason for refusal is failure by applican ts 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 importers to apply for licence  
9. All persons, firms and institutions engaged in import activities and entered as such in the Federal 
Public Revenue Administration (AFIP) Register of Importers are eligible to apply for import licences. 
To obtain a non -automatic licence, registration in the P roduction Matrix Single Register (RUMP), 
established pursuant to former Ministry of Production Resolution No. 442/2016 (Official Journal of 
9 September 2016) and the supplementary and 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 Resolution 
No. 4.185 -E/2018 (Official Journal of 8 Jan uary 2018), and the supplementing and amending 
regulations thereto, of the AFIP and the former Secretariat for Trade, and to provide the information G/LIC/N/3/ARG/18  
 
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  specified in Annex I to former Secretariat for Trade Resolution No.  523/2017 and the supplementing 
and amen ding 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 Production Matrix 
Single Register (RUMP) , established pu rsuant to  former Ministry of Production Resolution 
No. 442/2016 (Official Journal of 9 September 2016), and the supplementary and amending 
regulations thereto, and must enter into the system, for the tariff headings of the goods to be 
imported, the informa tion specified in Annex II(2) to former Ministry of Trade Resolution 
No. 523/2017 and the supplementing and amending regulations thereto.  
Required information, as well as the tariff headings subject to the non -automatic licensing system, 
can be found in th e 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 application , the procedure will automatically be cancelled and its status 
reflected in the system as "Baja Art. 4" ("Article 4 cancellati on"). 
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 III to Resolution 
No. 523/2017 and the supplementary and amending regulati ons 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 necessary, clarifications. This information 
must be submitted withi n the time limits and conditions laid down in Article 6 of Resolution 
No. 523/2017 and its amending regulations.  
11.All the information that importers are required to provide for import licence applications is set 
out in former Secretariat for Trade Resolu tion No. 523/2017 and the supplementary and 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, at 
least 15 days prior to expiry, and for good reason. Any ex tension granted for non -automatic import 
licences will, by extension, be granted to the period of validity of any automatic licences that are 
included in the same declaration registered in the SIMI. In this case, if the period of validity of the 
automatic licence has expired, the granting of the extension shall mean that this period will be 
renewed until the date that this extension expires.  
15. There are no penalties for the non -utilization or utilization of a 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.  G/LIC/N/3/ARG/18  
 
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  Other procedural requirements  
18. Certificates of compliance or exemption certificates, as appropriate, must be obtained in advance 
via th e Integrated Foreign Trade System (SISCO) for goods covered by the provisions of former 
Secretariat for Industry, Trade and Small and Medium -Sized Enterprises of the former Ministry of 
the Economy and Production Resolution No. 220/2003 and the amendments a nd regulations thereto.  
19. There is no relation between the import licensing regime and the foreign currency exchange 
system.  
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