G/LIC/N/3/ARG/14  
2 October  2018 
(18-6097) 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 201 8 
ARGENTINA  
The following communication, dated 2 8 September  2018, 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 regime, one automatic and the other 
non-automatic, both of which are established under Resolution No.  523/20171 of the Secretariat for 
Trade of the Ministry of Production , as amended by Secretariat for Trade Resolution s No. 898/2017, 
No. 5 -E/2018, No. 170/2018, No. 507/2018 and No. 526/2018 . 
 
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 , as clarified and amended by Secretariat for Trade Resolutions No. 898/2017, 
No. 5 -E/2018, No. 170/2018, No. 507/2018 and No. 526/2018 , 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.  
 
5. 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 , as amended by Secretariat for Trade Resolutions 
No. 898/2017, No. 5 -E/2018, No. 170/2018, N o. 507/2018 and No. 526/2018 . 
 
- Secretariat for Trade Resolution  No. 523/2017 , published in the Official Journal of the 
Argentine Republic on 7 July 2017. 
- Secretariat for Trade Resolution No.  898/2017 , published in the Official Journal of the 
Argentine Republic on 30 November 2017 . 
                                                
1 http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/275000 -279999/276625/norma.htm . G/LIC/N/3/ARG/14  
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  - Secretariat for Trade Resolution No.  5-E/2018 , published in the Official Journal of the 
Argentine Republic on 11 January  2018. 
- Secretariat for Trade Resolution No.  170/2018 , published in the Official Journal of the 
Argentine Republic on 28 March 2018.  
- Secretariat for Trade Resolution No.  507/2018 , published in the Official Journal of the 
Argentine Republic on 3 1 August 2018.  
- Secretariat for Trade Resolution No.  526/2018 , published in the Official Journal of the 
Argentine Republic on 7 September 2018.  
 
The executive branch does not need legislative approval to abolish the licensing regime . 
 
Procedures  
6. I-XI. Not applicable . The import licensing regime established pursuan t 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 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 I mport 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 compe tent 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), as approved by General Resolution 
No. 4.185  of 8 January 2018  of the Federal Public Revenue Administration (AFIP)2, and to 
provide the information specified in Annex I to Secretariat for Trade  Resolution No. 523/2017 , 
as clarified and amended by Secretariat for Trade Resolutions No. 898/2017, No. 5 -E/2018, 
No. 507/2018 and No. 526/2018 . 
 
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 prov ide 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 service " 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 authorizatio n). 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 refusal . All applicants have 
the right to plead an excuse before the assessment body . 
 
                                                
2 The text of the Resolution is available for consultation at: 
http://www.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/255000 -259999/257180/norma.htm . G/LIC/N/3/ARG/14  
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  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 . 
 
Documentational and other requirements for a pplication 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 Secret ariat 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 currency exchange 
system . 
 
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