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Argentina Updates General Trade Regulations in Regional Agreement Session

Argentina notified changes to the application of the Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay regional trade agreement, affecting its commercial regulations across multiple product sectors

ARGENTINA – TRADE AGREEMENT

Argentina Updates Regional Trade Rules for Key Sectors

Procedural changes affect agricultural, automotive, and food imports.

What changed

Regional trade agreement application modified for Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Commercial regulations updated for agricultural, automotive, textile, and food sectors.

Changes formally documented under WT/COMTD/RTA15/N/1/Add.18 series.

Who it affects

Importers of agricultural products, automotive parts, textiles, and processed foods must review updated commercial regulations.

Manufacturers in the meat, textile, and automotive sectors should verify compliance with new operational frameworks.

Argentina — regional trade agreement procedural updates

Compliance Answer: Argentina’s Recent Changes to MERCOSUR Trade Agreement Application

Argentina has notified temporary tariff reductions under MERCOSUR’s Economic Complementation Agreement No. 18 (AAP.CE 18) for specific product categories, primarily to address supply shortages. These changes are implemented through MERCOSUR Trade Commission Directives and incorporated into the agreement via appendices to Additional Protocol No. 190 (AAP.CE 18.190). The modifications exclusively affect goods (not services) and are valid for 365 days from their respective entry-into-force dates1, 2, 3.

Regulation Analysis

The following table summarizes the key tariff reductions and their regulatory parameters:

RegulationKey RequirementDeadline/ThresholdAuthority
AAP.CE 18.190 Appendix 82 (MERCOSUR Trade Commission Directive No. 30/24)Reduces Argentina’s import tariff to 2% for HS code 8545.19.90 (unspecified electrical carbon products) under a 10,500-ton quota1.26 May 2024 – 25 May 2025MERCOSUR Trade Commission; Argentine Customs (AFIP)1.
AAP.CE 18.190 Appendix 97 (MERCOSUR Trade Commission Directive No. 106/24)Reduces Argentina’s import tariff to 2% for HS code 3304.99.90 (cosmetic/preparatory products) under a 50,000-unit quota3.2 January 2025 – 1 January 2026MERCOSUR Trade Commission; Argentine Customs (AFIP)3.
AAP.CE 18.190 Appendix 98 (MERCOSUR Trade Commission Directive No. 107/24)Reduces Argentina’s import tariff to 2% for HS code 3304.99.90 (same as Appendix 97) under a 15,000-unit quota2. This is a separate allocation from the 50,000-unit quota in Appendix 972, 3.2 January 2025 – 1 January 2026MERCOSUR Trade Commission; Argentine Customs (AFIP)2.

Per-Source Elaboration

1. AAP.CE 18.190 Appendix 82 (Directive No. 30/24)

  • Product Covered: HS code 8545.19.90 (electrical carbon products).
  • Quota: 10,500 tons.
  • Tariff Rate: 2% (reduced from the standard MERCOSUR Common External Tariff, which varies by product).
  • Adoption Date: 14 March 2024.
  • Entry into Force: 26 May 20241.
  • Purpose: Address supply shortages in Argentina’s industrial sector1.

2. AAP.CE 18.190 Appendix 97 (Directive No. 106/24)

  • Product Covered: HS code 3304.99.90 (cosmetic/preparatory products).
  • Quota: 50,000 units.
  • Tariff Rate: 2%.
  • Adoption Date: 24 October 2024.
  • Entry into Force: 2 January 20253.
  • Purpose: Ensure supply for Argentina’s consumer goods market3.

3. AAP.CE 18.190 Appendix 98 (Directive No. 107/24)

  • Product Covered: HS code 3304.99.90 (same as Appendix 97).
  • Quota: 15,000 units (separate from the 50,000-unit quota in Appendix 97).
  • Tariff Rate: 2%.
  • Adoption Date: 24 October 2024.
  • Entry into Force: 2 January 20252.
  • Purpose: Complementary supply measure for the same product category2.

Compliance Requirements for Importers

  1. Quota Allocation: Importers must apply for quota allocation through Argentina’s Customs Authority (AFIP). The quotas are first-come, first-served unless otherwise specified1, 2, 3.
  2. Documentation: Proof of compliance with MERCOSUR rules of origin may be required (e.g., Certificate of Origin issued by a competent authority in a MERCOSUR member state)1, 2, 3.
  3. Tariff Payment: The 2% tariff applies only within the quota limits. Exceeding the quota reverts to the standard MERCOSUR tariff1, 2, 3.
  4. Temporal Validity: The tariff reductions are valid for 365 days from the entry-into-force date of each appendix. Importers must ensure shipments are cleared within this period1, 2, 3.

Summary Answer

Argentina has implemented temporary tariff reductions under MERCOSUR’s Economic Complementation Agreement No. 18 (AAP.CE 18) for three product categories:

  1. HS code 8545.19.90 (10,500-ton quota, 2% tariff, valid 26 May 2024–25 May 2025)1.
  2. HS code 3304.99.90 (50,000-unit quota, 2% tariff, valid 2 January 2025–1 January 2026)3.
  3. HS code 3304.99.90 (15,000-unit quota, 2% tariff, valid 2 January 2025–1 January 2026)2.

These measures are adopted via MERCOSUR Trade Commission Directives (Nos. 30/24, 106/24, and 107/24) and incorporated into AAP.CE 18.190 through appendices. Importers must comply with quota limits and temporal validity to benefit from the reduced tariffs. For enforcement, Argentina’s Customs Authority (AFIP) is the responsible agency1, 2, 3.

Sources

  1. ↩ Comité de Comercio y Desarrollo en Sesión Específica (Acuerdos Comerciales Regionales) – Notificación de los cambios que afectan la aplicación de un acuerdo comercial regional – Argentina, Brasil, Paraguay y Uruguay – Suplemento https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=S:/WT/COMTD/RTA15N1A18S214.pdf&Open=True
  2. ↩ Comité de Comercio y Desarrollo en Sesión Específica (Acuerdos Comerciales Regionales) – Notificación de los cambios que afectan la aplicación de un acuerdo comercial regional – Argentina, Brasil, Paraguay y Uruguay – Suplemento — SS / directdoc https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=S:/WT/COMTD/RTA15N1A18S230.pdf&Open=True
  3. ↩ Comité de Comercio y Desarrollo en Sesión Específica (Acuerdos Comerciales Regionales) – Notificación de los cambios que afectan la aplicación de un acuerdo comercial regional – Argentina, Brasil, Paraguay y Uruguay – Suplemento — SS / directdoc https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=S:/WT/COMTD/RTA15N1A18S229.pdf&Open=True
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