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Textile and Apparel Market Report – Argentina

Argentina

Market Report
Textiles, Apparel, Footwear, and Travel Goods

The following information is provided only as a guide and should be confirmed with the appropriate overseas market authorities before embarking on any export activities.

OFFICE OF TEXTILES AND APPAREL (OTEXA)

Import Tariffs and Customs Requirements

Argentina and its Southern Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR) partners, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay apply a common external tariff (CET) on most products imported from non-MERCOSUR countries. However, there are a number of exceptions in several categories, including textile and apparel products. Full CET product coverage, which would result in duty free movement within MERCOSUR, was originally scheduled for implementation in 2006, but has been deferred until 2009. Tariffs, are assessed on an ad valorem basis, i.e., duties are assessed as a percentage of the cost, insurance, and freight (c.i.f.) value of the imported merchandise.

For more information on Argentina’s tariff rates, see OTEXA’s Foreign Market Reports page.

Administrative Mechanisms—Customs External Note 87/2008 of October 2008 establishes administrative mechanisms that could restrict the entry of products deemed sensitive, such as textiles, apparel, footwear, toys, electronic products, and leather goods, among others. The stated purpose of the measure is to prevent under-invoicing.  While restrictions are not country-specific, they are to be applied more stringently to goods from countries considered “high risk” for under invoicing, and to products considered at risk for under invoicing, as well as trademark fraud.

Certificate of Origin—A certificate of origin is mandatory for the importation of fabrics, garments, made up goods and footwear for domestic consumption.  The certificate of origin must be issued in the country of origin by the competent government authority or by the entity to which this function has been delegated.  Certificates of origin must be legalized by the Argentine consulate in the country of origin and are valid for six months.

Import Licenses—Non-automatic import licensing requirements apply to a wide range of products, including apparel and footwear to toys, luggage and certain household goods.   Regulations require pre-registration, review and approval of every import transaction.  Importers are required to provide additional documentation to an office within the Argentine Ministry of Economy and Production (MEP) for review and approval prior to the shipment of their products.  Import license applications must be registered with the Under Secretariat for Trade Policy and Management for customs clearance. 

Statement of Product Composition—Under Resolution 404/2016, domestic producers and importers of textile products and footwear must submit a Declaration of Product Composition  (Declaracion Jurada de Composicion - DJCP) to the Secretariat of Trade that includes the percentage fiber composition for textile products, and constituent materials for footwear.  The DJCP is to support the accuracy of the information included on the product label.  If discrepancies are found, the National Institute of Industrial Technology (INTI) may carry out technical tests on samples of the products.

Port Restrictions—Customs Resolution No. 3/2010 provides an updated list of authorized ports-of-entry for textiles and apparel (NCM chapters 50-63), footwear (NCM chapter 64) and travel goods (NCM 42.02).  The new resolution lists two additional authorized ports-of-entry for the above mentioned products.  Ports as listed in Resolutions No. 3/2010 are as follows:

Textile and Apparel (HS chapters 50-63 —excluding HS 5201.00.20 and HS 5201.00.90)

Buenos Aires, Ezeiza, Paso de los Libres, Córdoba, Rosario, Campana, Mar del Plata, Puerto Iguazú, Bahía Blanca, Santa Fe, Puerto Madryn, Puerto Deseado, Comodoro Rivadavia, Santo Tomé, Mendoza, San Juan, Salta, La Plata.

Footwear (HS chapter 64)

Buenos Aires, Ezeiza, Paso de los Libres, Córdoba, Rosario, Campana, Mar del Plata, Santo Tomé, Salta, La Plata.

Travel Goods (HS 4202)

Buenos Aires, Ezeiza, Paso de los Libres, Córdoba, Rosario, Campana, Mar del Plata, Mendoza, San Juan, Santo Tomé, Salta, La Plata.

For more information on local customs requirements and documentation, see:

See additional customs and import regulation information in the Country Commercial Guide for Argentina.

Standards

The MERCOSUR Standards Association  - made up of the standards institutes of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay — develops and harmonizes standards.  The five countries generally adopt all of these regulations, though not always at the same time.  Argentine Standardization Institute is Argentina’s standards agency.   For more information on Argentina’s national standards, accreditation bodies, national testing organization(s) and conformity assessment bodies, see the Trade Standards page of the Country Commercial Guide for Argentina.

Labeling

Textiles and apparel

The Southern Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR) countries, which include Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, have adopted the Technical Regulation on Labelling of Textiles Products, MERCOSUR/GMC/RES. No. 62/18. For textile and apparel products produced in or imported for consumption into a MERCOSUR member country, the MERCOSUR Technical Regulations on Product Labeling Textiles (Reglamento Técnico Mercosur Sobre Etiquetado de Productos Textiles) requires the following information on a permanent label that is either attached, stamped, printed or otherwise affixed to most textile and apparel products:

  • name or registered brand and unique tax identification code (CUIT) for the domestic producer or importer
  • country of origin
  • fiber content
  • care instructions (text and/or symbols, conforming to ISO 3758: 2013)
  • size or dimensions, as applicable

This information must be in the language of the country of consumption but may also be in other languages. For more details see the see the text of the Reglamento Técnico Mercosur Sobre Etiquetado de Productos Textiles.

Footwear:

The Ministry of Production - Trade Secretariat Resolution 465/2018 - Technical Regulation on the Labeling Requirements Applicable to All Types of Footwear requires the following information to be provided in the Spanish and in clear, visible, and indelible labeling on the product:

  • country of Origin
  • name or registered brand and unique tax identification code (CUIT) for the domestic producer or importer brand, model of the article
  • composition of the footwear Parts: upper, lining and bottom
  • size (length of foot according to the European System)

Under Resolution 404/2016, domestic producers and importers of textile products and footwear must submit a Declaration of Product Composition  (Declaracion Jurada de Composicion - DJCP) to the Secretariat of Trade that includes the percentage fiber composition for textile products, and constituent materials for footwear.  The DJCP is to support the accuracy of the information included on the product label.  If discrepancies are found, the National Institute of Industrial Technology (INTI) may carry out technical tests on samples of the products.

For an overview of the different labeling and marking requirements, including any restrictive advertising or labeling practices and where to get more information, see the Labeling/Marking Requirements page on the Country Commercial Guide for Argentina. 

Market Resources 

To explore key resources and events, contact the U.S. Commercial Service in Argentina.  

Visit OTEXA’s Grow America webpage. 

For more information on exporting textiles, apparel, footwear, and travel goods, go to the Additional Market Information Page on the OTEXA Website.