WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
WT/DS445/1 
G/L/996 
G/LIC/D/42 
G/TRIMS/D/32 G/SG/D44/1 
23 August 2012 
 
(12-4557) 
 Original:   English 
 
 
 
ARGENTINA – MEASURES AFFECTING THE IMPORTATION  
OF GOODS  
 
Request for Consultations by Japan 
  
 The following communication, dated 21 August 2012, from the delegation of Japan to the delegation of Argentina and to the Chairperson of  the Dispute Settlement Body, is circulated in 
accordance with Article 4.4 of the DSU. 
 
_______________ 
 
 
My authorities have instructed me to request c onsultations with the Government of Argentine 
Republic ("Argentina"), pursuant to Articles 1 and 4 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures 
Governing the Settlement of Disputes , Article XXII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, 
1994  (GATT 1994), Article 6 of the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures and (the ILP 
Agreement) Article 8 of the Agreement on Trade Related Investment Measures  (the TRIMS 
Agreement) and Article 14 of the Agreement on Safeguards , with respect to certain measures imposed 
by Argentina on the importation of goods into Argentina. 
Argentina subjects the importation of goods into  Argentina to the presentation for approval 
(validación ) of a so-called Declaración Jurada An ticipada de Importación (DJAI).  The relevant legal 
instruments are listed in Annex I. 
Argentina subjects the importation of certain goods  into Argentina to non-automatic licenses: 
Licencias No Automáticas de Importación  in the form of Certificados de Importación  (CIs). The legal 
instruments providing for these measures are listed in Annex II. 
Argentina often requires the importers of goods  to undertake certain commitments, including, 
inter alia , to limit their imports, to balance them with exports, to make or increase their investment in 
production facilities in Argentina, to increase the loca l content of products manufactured in Argentina, 
not to transfer benefits abroad and/or to control their prices.  
The issuance of CIs and the approval of DJAIs are being systematically delayed or refused by 
the Argentinean authorities on non-transparent groun ds. The Argentinean authorities often make the 
issuance of CIs and the approval of DJAIs conditiona l upon the importers under taking to comply with 
the above-mentioned trade-restrictive commitments.  
These measures restrict imports of goods and discriminate between imported and domestic 
goods. They do not appear to be related to the implementation of any measure justified under the 
WTO Agreement, but instead are aimed at advancing the Argentinean Government's stated policies of 
re-industrialization, import s ubstitution and elimination of trade balance deficits.  WT/DS445/1, G/L/996,  
G/LIC/D/42, G/TRIMS/D/32,  G/SG/D44/1 
Page 2 
  
  The legal instruments through which Argentina im poses these restrictions include, but are not 
limited to, the legal instruments listed in the A nnexes, as well as any amendments, replacements, 
extensions, implementing meas ures or related measures. 
Argentina's measures appear to be inconsis tent with Argentina's obligations under the 
following provisions of the covered agreements: 
(i) Articles III:4, VIII, X:1, X:2, X:3 and XI:1 of the GATT 1994; 
(ii) Articles 2 and 6.1 of the TRIMs Agreement; 
(iii) Articles 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 2.2, 3.2,  3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4 of the 
ILP Agreement; 
(iv) Article 11 of the Agreement on Safeguards . 
Argentina's measures appear to nullify or impair  the benefits accruing to Japan directly or 
indirectly under the covered agreements. 
Japan reserves the right to raise additional me asures and claims regarding these matters in the 
course of the consultations. 
Japan looks forward to receiving Argentina’ s reply in due course to this request for 
consultations.  Japan is ready to consider with Ar gentina mutually convenient dates for consultations 
in Geneva.  
 
  WT/DS445/1, G/L/996,  
 G/LIC/D/42, G/TRIMS/D/32,   G/SG/D44/1 
 Page 3 
  
  Annex I 
Declaración Jurada Anticipada de Importación (DJAI) 
– Resolución AFIP 3252/2012 
– Resolución AFIP 3255/2012 
– Resolución AFIP 3256/2012 
– Resolución AFIP 3276/2012 
– Resolución SCI 1/2012 
– Comunicación del Banco Central “A” 5134 of 1.11.2010 
– Comunicación del Banco Central “A” 5274 of 1.30.2012 
– Any amendments, replacements, extensions, implementing measures or related measures 
 
Annex II 
Non-automatic licenses ( Licencias No Automáticas de Importación ) in the form of import 
certificates ( Certificados de Importación)    
– Import certificate for shoes ( productos del sector calzado ) – C.I.C.: Resolución MEyOSP 977/99, 
Resolución SICM 736/99 and Resolución MEyP 486/2005 
– Import certificate for paper ( papel ) – C.I.P.: Resolución MEyOSP 1117/99 and Resolución SICyM 
798/99 
– Import certificate for household products ( artículos para el hogar ) – C.I.A.H.: Resolución MEyP 
444/2004 and Resolución SICPME 177/2004  
– Import certificate for toys ( juguetes ) – C.I.J.: Resolución MEyP 485/2005 
– Import certificate for motorcycles ( motocicletas ) – C.I.M.: Resolución MEyP 689/2006  
– Import certificate for bicycle tyres ( cubiertas y cámaras neumáticas de bicicletas ) – C.I.C.C.N.B.: 
Resolución MEyP 694/2006 
– Import certificate for miscella neous manufactured products ( manufacturas diversas ) – C.I.M.D.: 
Resolución MEyP 47/2007 
– Import certificate for shoe parts ( partes de calzado ) – C.I.P.C.: Resolución MEyP 61/2007 
– Import certificate for balls ( pelotas ) – C.I.P.: Resolución MEyP 217/2007 
– Import certificate for textile products ( productos textiles ) – C.I.P.T.: Resolución MEyP 343/2007   
– Import certificate for metal products ( productos metalúrgicos ) – C.I.P.M.: Resolución MEyP 
588/2008 
– Import certificate for yarns ( hilados y tejidos ) – C.I.H.T.: Resolución MEyP 589/2008 
– Import certificate for tyres ( neumáticos ) – C.I.N.: Resolución MP 26/2009 
– Import certificate for miscellaneous products ( productos varios ) – C.I.P.V.: Resolución MP 
61/2009 WT/DS445/1, G/L/996,  
G/LIC/D/42, G/TRIMS/D/32,  G/SG/D44/1 
Page 4 
  
  – Import certificate for screws and similar products ( tornillos y afines ) – C.I.T.A.: Resolución MP 
165/2009  
– Import certificate for autoparts ( autopartes y afines ) – C.I.A.P.A.: Resolución MP 337/2009 
– Import certificate for motor vehicles ( vehículos automóviles ) – C.I.V.A.: Resolución MI 45/2011 
– Any amendments, replacements, extensions, implementing measures or related measures
1 
 
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1 This includes, for example,  Resolución MI 45/2011.