G/LIC/N/3/ARG/13  
25 September  2017 
(17-5070) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
REPLIES TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE ON  
IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES  
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 7.3 OF THE AGREEMENT  
ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES  
NOTIFICATION FOR 2017  
ARGENTINA  
The following communication, dated 2 2 September  2017, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Argentina.  
 
_______________  
 
 
Outline of systems  
1. Argentina currently has two types of import licensing regime, one automatic and the other 
non-automatic, bot h of which are established under Resolution No.  523/20171 of the Secretariat 
for Trade of the Ministry of Production , published in the Official Journal of the Argentine Republic 
on 7 July 2017. 
 
Purposes and coverage of licensing  
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 Annexes II to  XVII to Resolution No. 523/2017 of the Secretariat for 
Trade of the Ministry of Production , which are subject to non-automatic import licensing . 
 
3. Both types of licence apply to goods of all origins, without distinction . 
 
4. The 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 conditions governing the importation of goods , in 
accordance with the provisions of Annexes  II to XVII to Resolution No. 523/2017 of the Secretariat 
for Trade of the Ministry of Production . 
 
The Government of Argentina, a fter examining other possible options, considers this system to be 
the most appropriate for achieving the above -mentioned objectives . 
 
                                                
1 http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/275000 -279999/276625/norma.htm . G/LIC/N/3/ARG/13  
- 2 - 
  5. Argentina's import licensing regime is maintained under the following statutory provisions : 
 
- Secretariat  for Trade Resolution  No. 523/2017 , published in the Official Journal of the 
Argentine Republic on 7 July 2017. 
 
The executive branch does not need legislative approval to abolish the licensing regime . 
 
Procedures  
6. I-XI. Not applicable . The import licensing regime established pursuant to  the above -mentioned 
resolution  is not subject to quotas . 
 
7.(a)(b) Licences must be presented before the goods are cleared . The time -limits for 
obtaining licences meet the requirements laid down in the regulations i n 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 Resolution No.  523/2017, the National Directorate for Foreign Trade Facilitation , 
attached to the Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade of the Secretariat for Trade of the Ministry 
of Production , is the authority responsible for implementing the import licensing regime and 
may, at any time during the procedure, request the involvement of competent technical 
bodies, in accordance with Article 5 of the said Resolution . 
 
 Importers submitting applications for automatic import licences are required to use the 
Comprehensive Import Monitoring System (SIMI)2, as approved by General Resolution 
No. 3.823 of 21  December  2015 of the Federal Public Revenue Administration (AFIP)3, and  
to provide the information specified in Annex I to Secretariat for Trade  Resolution 
No. 523/2017.  
 
To obtain a non -automatic licence, importers are first of all required to complete the 
automatic licensing procedure . They must then, within ten (10) working days, access the 
AFIP website (http://www.afip.gob.ar ), by entering their individual tax identification number 
(Clave Única de Identificación Tributaria , CUIT) and password ( clave fiscal ), and use the 
interactive service " SC-Solicitud de contacto " (contact request) to provide the information 
specified in point 2 of Annexes II to XVII to Secretariat for Trade  Resolution No. 523/2017 , 
depending on the goods concerned.  
 
If the servi ce "SC-Solicitud de contacto " is not enabled, the importer should select the 
option " Administrador de relaciones con clave fiscal " (administrator with password) and click 
either on " Adherir servicio " (register for a service) or, if he wishes to authorize a  third party 
to manage the application process, on " Nueva relación " (new authorization) . He should then 
click on the logo of the " Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas Públicas " (Ministry of the 
Economy and Public Finance), then on " Servicios interactivos " (interactive services) and 
finally on " SC-Solicitud de contacto " (contact request).  
 
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 re fusal. 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 
AFIP Register of Importers are  eligible to apply for import licences . 
 
                                                
2 Further information is available at http://www.afip.gob.ar/simi . 
3 The text of the Resolution i s available for consultation at: 
http://www.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/255000 -259999/257180/norma.htm . G/LIC/N/3/ARG/13  
- 3 - 
  Documentational and other requirements for application for licence  
10.-11. All the information that importers are required to provide for import licence applications is 
set out in Secretariat for Trade Resolution No . 523/2017 . The required forms and documents are 
available at http://www.afip.gob.ar/simi . 
 
12. Import licences are processed free of charge . 
 
13. There is no deposit or advance payment requirement associated with the issue of import 
licences . 
 
Conditions of licensing  
14. Licences are valid for one  hundred and eighty (180) calendar days from the date of their 
approval in the Comprehensive Import Monitoring System (SIMI ). They may be extended  only 
once. 
 
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 regulations in force . 
 
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 Resolution 
No. 220/2003 (and the amendments and regulations thereto) and Resolution No.  153/2005 
(and the amendments thereto) of the former Secretariat of Industry, Trade and Small and 
Medium -Sized Enterprises of the former Ministry of Economy and Production . 
 
19. There is no relation between the import licensing regime and the foreign curren cy exchange 
system . 
 
__________