. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/LIC/Q/ARG/4 
31 August 2007 
 
 (07-3668) 
Committee on Import Licensing Original:   Spanish 
  
 
IMPORT LICENSING SYSTEM OF ARGENTINA 
 
Replies of ARGENTINA to the Questions from the UNITED STATES
 
  
 The following communication, dated 30 July 2007, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Argentina.  
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Question
: 
 
Argentina states that "footwear import li cences are allocated to both foreign and 
domestic producers."  Please descri be how these licences are allocated. 
In response to question 4 in this document, which asked whether import licensing is 
"intended to restrict the quantity or value of imports," Argentina answered "licensing does not 
restrict either the quantity or the value of imports."  However, in reply to question 6.IV, Argentina stated "the current footwear quotas stem from the application of a safeguard 
measure."  Does Argentina currently have a quota in place for footwear?  Is this quota enforced 
through restricting the quantity of import licences granted for footwear?  Please identify the 
safeguards or any other quantitative restrictions applied in conformity with WTO rules that 
would justify Argentina's efforts to control these imports. 
 
Reply
: 
  This question calls for certain clarifications .  The non-automatic licensing system applied to 
footwear is not linked to any safeguard measu re.  Although Argentina's notification of 1999 
(G/LIC/N/2/ARG/5) coincides with the application to that sector of a safeguard measure, which was 
notified to the Committee on Safeguards in document  G/LIC/N/2/ARG/2/Rev.1, the two procedures 
are not linked.  Moreover, that safegua rd measure expired on 21 July 2003. 
 
  The requirement imposed on both importers  and domestic producers is linked to the 
notification of Resolution 977/1999, which provides that such non-au tomatic licences shall be granted 
to importers that have complied with Resolution SIC.yM 508/99.   Resolution 508/99, in its turn, provides that an y footwear marketed in Argentina must comply 
with certain labelling requirements ai med at protecting the right of cons umers to adequate and truthful 
information in order to ensure that they ha ve freedom of choice in selecting their purchases. G/LIC/Q/ARG/4 
Page 2  
 
  Question
: 
 
Argentina also states that "certificates are issued and must be presented together with 
the rest of the documentation required for in ward customs clearance."  Please explain how 
these certificates are issued. 
 
Reply : 
  Footwear Import Certificates are issued in acco rdance with Annex I of Resolution 486/2005, 
which was notified to the Committee on Import Licensing. 
 
Question
: 
 
Question 6.V asks Argentina to describe the lengths of time Argentina requires for 
processing applications; Argentina responds that  import certificates for products including 
footwear and toys take "a maximum of 30 ca lendar days."  However, US exporters have 
reported that in practice, the processing time -period was between 60-90 days.  Please describe 
how Argentina processes non-automatic import licences to ensure that its system is WTO-
compliant. 
 
Reply : 
 
 Although Resolution 486/2005 does not set any time-period for processing Footwear Import Certificates, as notified to the Committee on Import Licensing, it usually takes from 10 to 30 days.  In 
any case, the processing time for li cences complies with Article 3.5(f) of the Agreement on Import 
Licensing procedures. 
 
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