G/LIC/N/3/ARG/1 9  
23 October 2023 
(23-7099) 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  2023 
ARGENTINA  
The following communication , dated 20 October 2023 , is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the Argentine Republic . 
 
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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 establishe d under Resolution 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 In dustry, 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.  29/2020, 
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 s No. 1/2022  and No. 26/2022 . 
Purposes and coverage of licen sing 
2. Goods classified under all MERCOSUR Common Nomencla ture (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 form er 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. 29/2020, 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 s 
No. 1/2022  and No. 26/2022 , which are subject 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 
appropria te prior verification system for ensuring compliance with the conditions 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 regulation s 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/1 9 
 
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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 Provis ions 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 s No. 1/2022  and 
No. 26/2022 . 
The upd ated 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 for Trade Policy and Management of the Secretariat for Trade , under the 
Ministry of Economic Affairs , is the implementing authority and is empowered to issue the 
supplementary regulations necessary for implementation, and to make change s 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 pre sented 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 Resoluti on No. 523/2017, and the supplementary 
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, attac hed to the Secretariat for Trade, under the Ministry of 
Econom ic Affairs , 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 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.  
Eligibilit y 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 Production 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 Import 
System of the Argentine Republic (SIRA),  as approved by Joint Resolution No. 5.271/2022 (Official G/LIC/N/3/ARG/1 9 
 
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  Journal of 12 October 2022 ), and the supplementing and amending regulations thereto,1 of the AFIP 
and the 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 amending regulations 
thereto.  
Interested parties submitting applications for non-automatic import licences  must be duly enrolled 
on the Production Matrix Single Register (RUMP) , established pursuant to  former Ministry of 
Production Resolution No.  442/2016 (Official Journal of 9 September 2016) and must enter into the 
system  the information specified in Annex I to former Secretariat for  Trade Resolution No.  523/2017 
and the supplementing and amending regulations thereto , as well as, for the tariff headings of the 
goods to be imported, the information specified in Annex II(2) to the aforementioned Resolution . 
Required information, as 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 application , the procedure will automatically be cancelled and its status 
reflected in the syst em 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 III to Resolution 
No. 523/2017 a nd the supplementary and amending regulations 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 in accordance with the time limits and terms 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 Resolution No. 523/2017 and the supplementary and amending 
regulations thereto. 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.  
Conditions  of licensing  
14. Import licences are valid for 90 calendar days from the date of their approval in the SIRA. This 
period may be extended by the impl ementing authority, at the request of the interested party, at 
least 15 days prior to expiry, and for good reason. Any extension granted for non -automatic import 
licences will, by extension, be granted to the period of validity of any automatic licences th at are 
included in the same declaration registered in the SIRA. 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 expir es. 
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.  
 
1 The updated text of Resolution No. 5.271/2022 may be viewed at:  
http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/370000 -374999/372910/texact.htm  G/LIC/N/3/ARG/1 9 
 
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  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 Small and Medium -Sized Enterprises of the former Ministry of 
Economic Affairs and Production Resolution No. 220/2003 and the amendments and regulations 
thereto.  
19. To obtain the foreign currency necessary for the payment of imports of goods , banking entit ies 
provide operators with access to the foreign exchange market  under  the conditions established by 
the authority responsible for the country's monetary and exchange rate policies. 
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