As of today the government’s new import restrictions will come into effect as part of the new legislation on the trading sector that witnesses the constant increasing power of Domestic Trade Secretary Guillermo Moreno, who according to government officials could also be granted with powers to manage all exports as well.
The new legislation comes into effect after the AFIP tax agency announced the implementation of the Advanced Sworn Statement on Imports (DJAI) as part of a new series of measures aimed at having a larger control on imports.
Some fear the new requirements are intended to stop the imports of foreign goods.
The new restrictions brought some headaches not only to local businessmen but also to regional partners.
Dilma Rousseff administration has evidenced their discontent for the new legislation on the trading sector with Brazil’s Interior Minister Fernando Pimentel remarking that Argentina’s trading policies as well import bans and blocks have been “a permanent problem” for the giant neighbor.
While speaking to the Dow Jones Newswire agency, Pimentel assured that “Argentina has been a permanent problem. Politically we’re in good terms, but when it comes to the economy, it’s hard to deal with them.”
Likewise, the head of the Brazilian National Industry Confederation, Soraya Saavedra Rosar, had expressed his “concern” over the new Argentine trade blocks and complained about a “lack of predictability” in the country.
Pimentel commented that Brazil has a trade surplus with Argentina “of over 6 billion dollars” and assured that they would not engage in negotiations until the new trade measures go into effect.
Another actor that has raised its voice was neighboring Uruguay as the the chairman of the Uruguayan Chamber of Industry, Washington Burghi, warned that Argentina’s decision to restrict imports could be “the beginning of the end” for the Mercosur bloc.
“I understand that every country has the right to defend the work of their people. But governments also have the obligation to respect the Mercosur agreements,” Burghi complained.
Likewise, burghi said that the latest measure “affects the Uruguayan food and textile sectors,” adding that “he doesn’t understand why Brazilian products have the right to be placed on the supermarket shelves.”
Furthermore, the businessman warned that Uruguay “should also look after the work of their citizens, and that could mean the beginning of the end for the Mercosur, since agreements are not being honored.”
“The Uruguayan government is aware of the recent restrictions,” he said, and assured that the business sector is “still analyzing the situation because small countries such as ours must always be open for negotiation.”
The conflict with the Uruguayan industry began after the Ministry of Industry decided to include over 200 imported products in the list of goods that need a special permit to enter the country.
The government justified this measure as a move to “protect national production.”
buenosairesherald.com