United States Requested World Trade Organization to Establish a Dispute Settlement Panel

WASHINGTON, D.C. — December 6, 2012 — United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk announced today that the United States has requested the World Trade Organization (WTO) to establish a dispute settlement panel regarding Argentina's trade restrictive measures applied to all U.S. goods imported into Argentina. These measures include the broad use of non-transparent and discretionary import licensing requirements that have the effect of unfairly restricting U.S. exports. Argentina further disadvantages U.S. exports by requiring importers to agree to undertake burdensome trade balancing commitments in exchange for authorization to import goods. The European Union, Mexico and Japan have also requested the establishment of panels on these matters.

"Argentina's persistent use of protectionist measures broadly impacts all U.S. exporters of goods to Argentina," said Ambassador Kirk. "It is vital to American workers that our exporters obtain fair and equal access to foreign markets, as required by our trade agreements. Today's step reflects the Obama Administration's commitment to ensuring that our trading partners play by the rules so that our companies can compete on a level playing field."

The United States requested formal consultations with Argentina on August 21, 2012. The United States and Argentina held consultations on September 20-21, 2012, but the consultations did not resolve the dispute.

Background
Since 2008, Argentina has greatly expanded the list of products subject to non-automatic import licensing requirements. Import licenses are required for approximately 600 eight-digit tariff lines in Argentina's goods schedule. The affected products include, but are not limited to, laptops, home appliances, air conditioners, tractors, machinery and tools, autos and auto parts, plastics, chemicals, tires, toys, footwear, textiles and apparel, luggage, bicycles and paper products. In February 2012, Argentina adopted an additional licensing requirement that applies to all imports of goods into the country.