Argentina Mulls Curbs to Check Textile Imports

The Government of Argentina has put forward three possible measures to protect the domestic textile industry from unfair competition. The measures are:

  • Increase import duty;

·         New Non-Automatic Licensing System; and

·         Introducing anti-dumping duties.

The Government asked the textile industry to make a list of items that can be included in the list of 100 items on which tariff can be increased beyond the Mercosur Common External Tariff (CET), and also to add to Non-Automatic Licensing System (LNA) or apply anti-dumping protection.

Last December, Mercosur member countries decided to individually apply additional import duties above the CET on 100 items. However, the tariffs cannot exceed the 35 percent limit set by the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The Government is currently preparing a list of 100 textile and non-textile items on which Argentina would like to raise tariff. The final list is to be submitted to the Mercosur Trade Commission, and the new tariff would come into effect if no objection is raised by other member countries.

The Argentine Government is also considering increasing the current list of 605 items that come under Non-Automatic Licensing.

The Government would protect the domestic textile industry from unfair foreign competition and would support the industry in its efforts to innovate, add value and save every single job.

Back to Index of January 2012