. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/LIC/Q/ARG/9 
7 May 2009 
 
 (09-2255) 
Committee on Import Licensing Original:   Spanish 
  
 
IMPORT LICENSING SYSTEM OF ARGENTINA 
 
Replies by Argentina to the Questions from PERU
1 
  
 The following communication, dated 5 May 2009, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Argentina. 
_______________ 
Question
: 
 
 Peru wishes to put the following questions  to Argentina concerning the addendum to 
notification G/LIC/N/2/ARG/12 (of 6 July 2007) , circulated on 19 January 2009 as document 
G/LIC/N/2/ARG/12/Add.1: 
 
1. Resolution 343/2007 states that, in order to evaluat e import behaviour regarding certain 
textile products, it is necessary to establish a p re-release verification mechanism on a temporary 
basis  to monitor and control imports of such goods , and it was therefore decided to establish the 
Textile Product Import Certificate (CIPT). 
 
(a) Would Argentina please explain why the numb er of tariff items subject to non-automatic 
licensing has increased pursuant to Resolution 330/2008, since the mechanism was 
established two years ago on a temporary basis? 
 
Reply : 
  The international textiles and clothing market has undergone significant changes over the last 
two years.  Current international market conditions  are more problematic and troubled as a result of 
falling demand in the major importing countries and rising inventories of exportable goods in the 
major exporting countries.  This volatility of the in ternational market explains the increased number 
of products covered by the mechanism.  
Question
: 
 
(b) Given the temporary nature of the mechanism, has Argentina determined how much longer it 
will apply? 
 
Reply : 
 
 Application of the mechanism is determined by international textiles and clothing market 
conditions;  the system will remain  in force for as long as the current unfavourable conditions - as 
mentioned above - persist.  
                                                     
 
1 See document G/LIC/Q/ARG/7. G/LIC/Q/ARG/9 
Page 2  
 
  Question
: 
 
(c) Has the Argentine Government considered other more appropriate and less trade-restrictive 
procedures than non-automatic import licensing in  order to achieve the objective pursued by 
this mechanism (i.e. monitoring an d control of import transactions)? 
 
Reply : 
  The Government has considered a number of procedures and is of  the opinion that this system 
is the most appropriate and least trade-restrictive under the present circumstances. 
 
Question
: 
 
2. The Government of Peru has received reports  from its export sector regarding the time it 
takes to issue CIPTs, which largely exceeds the peri ods laid down in Article 3.5(f) of the Agreement 
on Import Licensing Procedures.  Would Argentina please explain the reas ons for the difference 
between the periods indicated and those which Pe ruvian exporters have experienced in practice in 
recent months?  It is important to note Argenti na's replies to the questionnaire on import licensing 
procedures (G/LIC/N/3/ARG/5, of 10 September 2008), which state that the minimum and maximum 
period for processing applications for import certificat es is 10 and 30 calendar days, respectively.  
Argentina also reports that the allocation of a ll import licences to applicants is on a first-come, 
first-served basis.  The application processing peri od should not, therefore, be more than 30 days. 
 
Reply : 
   Applications for non-automatic import licen ses used to be examined on a first-come, 
first-served basis;  at present they are examined simultaneously. 
 
Question
: 
 
3. Peru notes that Resolution 343/2007 has been amended once again by Ministry of Production 
Resolution 61/09 of 4 March 2009, which further extends the range of tariff items subject to 
non-automatic licensing.  When will this be notified by Argentina?  
Reply
: 
  Resolution 61/2009 was notified in doc ument G/LIC/N/2/ARG/16 of 19 March 2009. 
 
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