This dispute concerns two measures:

• The procedure connected to the Advance Sworn Import Declaration (Declaración Jurada Anticipada de Importación, DJAI), required by the Argentine Government since February 2012 for most imports of goods into Argentina; and,
• The imposition by Argentine authorities on economic operators of one or more of the following trade-related requirements (TRRs) as a condition to import into Argentina or to obtain certain benefits: (a) to offset the value of imports with, at least, an equivalent value of exports; (b) to limit imports, either in volume or in value; (c) to reach a certain level of local content in domestic production; (d) to make investments in Argentina; and, (e) to refrain from repatriating profits. The requirements are in some cases contained in agreements signed between economic operators and the Argentine Government or in letters addressed by economic operators to the Argentine Government.

With respect to the DJAI procedure, the complainants (European Union, United States and Japan) requested the Panel to find that: (a) the DJAI procedure is an import restriction inconsistent with Article XI:1 of the GATT 1994; (b) the DJAI procedure is administered in a manner inconsistent with Argentina’s obligations under Article X:3(a) of the GATT 1994; and, (c) Argentina failed to publish promptly information relating to the operation of the DJAI procedure in the manner required by Article X:1 of the GATT 1994.

The complainants presented a second line of arguments with respect to the DJAI procedure that were relevant only in the event that the DJAI procedure was found to be an import licence. In such case, the complainants argued that: (a) the DJAI procedure is an import restriction, made effective through an import licence, inconsistent with Article XI:1 of the GATT 1994; (b) the DJAI procedure is administered in a manner inconsistent with Argentina’s obligations under Articles 1.3, 1.6, 3.2, and 3.5(f) of the Import Licensing Agreement; (c) Argentina failed to publish promptly information relating to the operation of the DJAI procedure in the manner required by Articles 1.4(a) and 3.3 of the Import Licensing Agreement; and, (d) Argentina failed to notify the DJAI procedure in the manner required by Articles 1.4(a), 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, and 5.4 of the Import Licensing Agreement.

With respect to Argentina’s imposition of TRRs, the complainants requested the Panel to make the following factual findings: (a) that the measure consists of a combination of one or more of the five trade-related requirements identified by the complainants; (b) that it is an unwritten measure “not stipulated in any published law or regulation”; (c) that the measure is imposed on economic operators in Argentina as a condition to import or to obtain certain benefits; (d) that the measure  is enforced, inter alia, through the DJAI; and, (e) that the measure is imposed by the Argentine Government with the objective of eliminating trade deficits and increasing import substitution.

The complainants advanced claims in respect of the TRRs under Articles XI:1 and X:1 of the GATT 1994. First, the complainants alleged that the TRRs imposed by Argentina have a limiting effect on the economic operators’ ability to import and, therefore, constitute a violation of Article XI:1 of the GATT 1994. Second, the complainants argued that the TRRs are inconsistent with Article X:1 of the GATT 1994 because Argentina failed to publish the measure promptly, thereby preventing governments and traders from becoming acquainted with it. Finally, the European Union and Japan further argued that the TRRs, in respect of the local content requirement, are inconsistent with Article III:4 of the GATT 1994, because they require economic operators to use domestic, instead of imported, products to achieve a specified level of local content.

In addition, Japan requested separate findings concerning Articles III:4, X:1 and XI:1 of the GATT 1994 in respect of the TRRs “as such” and “as applied”.

Argentina requested that the Panel reject the complainants’ claims. Argentina argued that the DJAI procedure is a customs or import formality subject to Article VIII of the GATT 1994 and therefore not subject to Article XI:1 of the GATT 1994 or the Import Licensing Agreement. Argentina also argued, with respect to the TRRs, that the complainants did not produce evidence of the existence of a single “overarching” measure with general and prospective application. In Argentina’s view, even if the Panel were to accept the complainants’ characterization of the evidence relating to the TRRs, at most this might indicate the existence of a series of individual one-off and isolated actions that concern a limited number of individual economic operators in a limited number of sectors, whose content varies considerably and lacks general and prospective application.

With regard to the DJAI procedure, the Panel found that:

• Irrespective of whether the DJAI procedure is considered to be a customs or import formality subject to the obligations contained in Article VIII of the GATT 1994, this fact per se would not exclude the applicability of Article XI:1 of the GATT 1994 to the  measure.
• The DJAI procedure is inconsistent with Article XI:1 of the GATT 1994, since it has a limiting effect on imports, and thus constitutes an import restriction.

The Panel refrained from making any findings regarding the DJAI procedure with respect to the additional claims raised by the complainants under Article XI:1 of the GATT 1994, and Articles X:1 and X:3(a) of the GATT 1994, and several provisions of the Import Licensing Agreement (Articles 1.3, 1.4(a), 1.6, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5(f), 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, and 5.4). The Panel considered that additional findings were not necessary or useful in resolving the matter at issue.¨

With regard to the Trade-Related Requirements (TRRs), the Panel found that:

• The imposition on economic operators by the Argentine authorities of one or more of the five requirements identified by the complainants as a condition to import or to obtain certain benefits operates as a single measure (the TRRs measure) attributable to Argentina.
• The five trade-related requirements identified by the Panel as part of the TRRs measure are the following: (a) offsetting the value of imports with, at least, an equivalent value of exports (one-to-one requirement); (b) limiting imports, either in volume or in value (import reduction requirement); (c) reaching a certain level of local content in domestic production (local content requirement); (d) making investments in Argentina (investment requirement); and, (e) refraining from repatriating profits from Argentina (non-repatriation requirement).
• The TRRs measure is inconsistent with Article XI:1 because it has limiting effects on the importation of goods into Argentina.
• The TRRs measure, with respect to the requirement to incorporate local content, is inconsistent with Article III:4 of the GATT 1994 because it modifies the conditions of competition in the Argentine market to the detriment of imported products.

In addition, in response to Japan’s request, the Panel also found that the TRRs measure “as such” is inconsistent with Articles III:4 and XI:1 of the GATT 1994.

The Panel also considered that an additional finding regarding the same measure under Article X:1 of the GATT 1994 was not necessary or useful in resolving the matter at issue.

This dispute concerns two measures:

• The procedure connected to the Advance Sworn Import Declaration (Declaración Jurada Anticipada de Importación, DJAI), required by the Argentine Government since February 2012 for most imports of goods into Argentina; and,
• The imposition by Argentine authorities on economic operators of one or more of the following trade-related requirements (TRRs) as a condition to import into Argentina or to obtain certain benefits: (a) to offset the value of imports with, at least, an equivalent value of exports; (b) to limit imports, either in volume or in value; (c) to reach a certain level of local content in domestic production; (d) to make investments in Argentina; and, (e) to refrain from repatriating profits. The requirements are in some cases contained in agreements signed between economic operators and the Argentine Government or in letters addressed by economic operators to the Argentine Government.

With respect to the DJAI procedure, the complainants (European Union, United States and Japan) requested the Panel to find that: (a) the DJAI procedure is an import restriction inconsistent with Article XI:1 of the GATT 1994; (b) the DJAI procedure is administered in a manner inconsistent with Argentina’s obligations under Article X:3(a) of the GATT 1994; and, (c) Argentina failed to publish promptly information relating to the operation of the DJAI procedure in the manner required by Article X:1 of the GATT 1994.

The complainants presented a second line of arguments with respect to the DJAI procedure that were relevant only in the event that the DJAI procedure was found to be an import licence. In such case, the complainants argued that: (a) the DJAI procedure is an import restriction, made effective through an import licence, inconsistent with Article XI:1 of the GATT 1994; (b) the DJAI procedure is administered in a manner inconsistent with Argentina’s obligations under Articles 1.3, 1.6, 3.2, and 3.5(f) of the Import Licensing Agreement; (c) Argentina failed to publish promptly information relating to the operation of the DJAI procedure in the manner required by Articles 1.4(a) and 3.3 of the Import Licensing Agreement; and, (d) Argentina failed to notify the DJAI procedure in the manner required by Articles 1.4(a), 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, and 5.4 of the Import Licensing Agreement.

With respect to Argentina’s imposition of TRRs, the complainants requested the Panel to make the following factual findings: (a) that the measure consists of a combination of one or more of the five trade-related requirements identified by the complainants; (b) that it is an unwritten measure “not stipulated in any published law or regulation”; (c) that the measure is imposed on economic operators in Argentina as a condition to import or to obtain certain benefits; (d) that the measure  is enforced, inter alia, through the DJAI; and, (e) that the measure is imposed by the Argentine Government with the objective of eliminating trade deficits and increasing import substitution.

The complainants advanced claims in respect of the TRRs under Articles XI:1 and X:1 of the GATT 1994. First, the complainants alleged that the TRRs imposed by Argentina have a limiting effect on the economic operators’ ability to import and, therefore, constitute a violation of Article XI:1 of the GATT 1994. Second, the complainants argued that the TRRs are inconsistent with Article X:1 of the GATT 1994 because Argentina failed to publish the measure promptly, thereby preventing governments and traders from becoming acquainted with it. Finally, the European Union and Japan further argued that the TRRs, in respect of the local content requirement, are inconsistent with Article III:4 of the GATT 1994, because they require economic operators to use domestic, instead of imported, products to achieve a specified level of local content.

In addition, Japan requested separate findings concerning Articles III:4, X:1 and XI:1 of the GATT 1994 in respect of the TRRs “as such” and “as applied”.

Argentina requested that the Panel reject the complainants’ claims. Argentina argued that the DJAI procedure is a customs or import formality subject to Article VIII of the GATT 1994 and therefore not subject to Article XI:1 of the GATT 1994 or the Import Licensing Agreement. Argentina also argued, with respect to the TRRs, that the complainants did not produce evidence of the existence of a single “overarching” measure with general and prospective application. In Argentina’s view, even if the Panel were to accept the complainants’ characterization of the evidence relating to the TRRs, at most this might indicate the existence of a series of individual one-off and isolated actions that concern a limited number of individual economic operators in a limited number of sectors, whose content varies considerably and lacks general and prospective application.

With regard to the DJAI procedure, the Panel found that:

• Irrespective of whether the DJAI procedure is considered to be a customs or import formality subject to the obligations contained in Article VIII of the GATT 1994, this fact per se would not exclude the applicability of Article XI:1 of the GATT 1994 to the  measure.
• The DJAI procedure is inconsistent with Article XI:1 of the GATT 1994, since it has a limiting effect on imports, and thus constitutes an import restriction.

The Panel refrained from making any findings regarding the DJAI procedure with respect to the additional claims raised by the complainants under Article XI:1 of the GATT 1994, and Articles X:1 and X:3(a) of the GATT 1994, and several provisions of the Import Licensing Agreement (Articles 1.3, 1.4(a), 1.6, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5(f), 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, and 5.4). The Panel considered that additional findings were not necessary or useful in resolving the matter at issue.¨

With regard to the Trade-Related Requirements (TRRs), the Panel found that:

• The imposition on economic operators by the Argentine authorities of one or more of the five requirements identified by the complainants as a condition to import or to obtain certain benefits operates as a single measure (the TRRs measure) attributable to Argentina.
• The five trade-related requirements identified by the Panel as part of the TRRs measure are the following: (a) offsetting the value of imports with, at least, an equivalent value of exports (one-to-one requirement); (b) limiting imports, either in volume or in value (import reduction requirement); (c) reaching a certain level of local content in domestic production (local content requirement); (d) making investments in Argentina (investment requirement); and, (e) refraining from repatriating profits from Argentina (non-repatriation requirement).
• The TRRs measure is inconsistent with Article XI:1 because it has limiting effects on the importation of goods into Argentina.
• The TRRs measure, with respect to the requirement to incorporate local content, is inconsistent with Article III:4 of the GATT 1994 because it modifies the conditions of competition in the Argentine market to the detriment of imported products.

In addition, in response to Japan’s request, the Panel also found that the TRRs measure “as such” is inconsistent with Articles III:4 and XI:1 of the GATT 1994.

The Panel also considered that an additional finding regarding the same measure under Article X:1 of the GATT 1994 was not necessary or useful in resolving the matter at issue.

This dispute concerns two measures:

• The procedure connected to the Advance Sworn Import Declaration (Declaración Jurada Anticipada de Importación, DJAI), required by the Argentine Government since February 2012 for most imports of goods into Argentina; and,
• The imposition by Argentine authorities on economic operators of one or more of the following trade-related requirements (TRRs) as a condition to import into Argentina or to obtain certain benefits: (a) to offset the value of imports with, at least, an equivalent value of exports; (b) to limit imports, either in volume or in value; (c) to reach a certain level of local content in domestic production; (d) to make investments in Argentina; and, (e) to refrain from repatriating profits. The requirements are in some cases contained in agreements signed between economic operators and the Argentine Government or in letters addressed by economic operators to the Argentine Government.

With respect to the DJAI procedure, the complainants (European Union, United States and Japan) requested the Panel to find that: (a) the DJAI procedure is an import restriction inconsistent with Article XI:1 of the GATT 1994; (b) the DJAI procedure is administered in a manner inconsistent with Argentina’s obligations under Article X:3(a) of the GATT 1994; and, (c) Argentina failed to publish promptly information relating to the operation of the DJAI procedure in the manner required by Article X:1 of the GATT 1994.

The complainants presented a second line of arguments with respect to the DJAI procedure that were relevant only in the event that the DJAI procedure was found to be an import licence. In such case, the complainants argued that: (a) the DJAI procedure is an import restriction, made effective through an import licence, inconsistent with Article XI:1 of the GATT 1994; (b) the DJAI procedure is administered in a manner inconsistent with Argentina’s obligations under Articles 1.3, 1.6, 3.2, and 3.5(f) of the Import Licensing Agreement; (c) Argentina failed to publish promptly information relating to the operation of the DJAI procedure in the manner required by Articles 1.4(a) and 3.3 of the Import Licensing Agreement; and, (d) Argentina failed to notify the DJAI procedure in the manner required by Articles 1.4(a), 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, and 5.4 of the Import Licensing Agreement.

With respect to Argentina’s imposition of TRRs, the complainants requested the Panel to make the following factual findings: (a) that the measure consists of a combination of one or more of the five trade-related requirements identified by the complainants; (b) that it is an unwritten measure “not stipulated in any published law or regulation”; (c) that the measure is imposed on economic operators in Argentina as a condition to import or to obtain certain benefits; (d) that the measure  is enforced, inter alia, through the DJAI; and, (e) that the measure is imposed by the Argentine Government with the objective of eliminating trade deficits and increasing import substitution.

The complainants advanced claims in respect of the TRRs under Articles XI:1 and X:1 of the GATT 1994. First, the complainants alleged that the TRRs imposed by Argentina have a limiting effect on the economic operators’ ability to import and, therefore, constitute a violation of Article XI:1 of the GATT 1994. Second, the complainants argued that the TRRs are inconsistent with Article X:1 of the GATT 1994 because Argentina failed to publish the measure promptly, thereby preventing governments and traders from becoming acquainted with it. Finally, the European Union and Japan further argued that the TRRs, in respect of the local content requirement, are inconsistent with Article III:4 of the GATT 1994, because they require economic operators to use domestic, instead of imported, products to achieve a specified level of local content.

In addition, Japan requested separate findings concerning Articles III:4, X:1 and XI:1 of the GATT 1994 in respect of the TRRs “as such” and “as applied”.

Argentina requested that the Panel reject the complainants’ claims. Argentina argued that the DJAI procedure is a customs or import formality subject to Article VIII of the GATT 1994 and therefore not subject to Article XI:1 of the GATT 1994 or the Import Licensing Agreement. Argentina also argued, with respect to the TRRs, that the complainants did not produce evidence of the existence of a single “overarching” measure with general and prospective application. In Argentina’s view, even if the Panel were to accept the complainants’ characterization of the evidence relating to the TRRs, at most this might indicate the existence of a series of individual one-off and isolated actions that concern a limited number of individual economic operators in a limited number of sectors, whose content varies considerably and lacks general and prospective application.

With regard to the DJAI procedure, the Panel found that:

• Irrespective of whether the DJAI procedure is considered to be a customs or import formality subject to the obligations contained in Article VIII of the GATT 1994, this fact per se would not exclude the applicability of Article XI:1 of the GATT 1994 to the  measure.
• The DJAI procedure is inconsistent with Article XI:1 of the GATT 1994, since it has a limiting effect on imports, and thus constitutes an import restriction.

The Panel refrained from making any findings regarding the DJAI procedure with respect to the additional claims raised by the complainants under Article XI:1 of the GATT 1994, and Articles X:1 and X:3(a) of the GATT 1994, and several provisions of the Import Licensing Agreement (Articles 1.3, 1.4(a), 1.6, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5(f), 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, and 5.4). The Panel considered that additional findings were not necessary or useful in resolving the matter at issue.¨

With regard to the Trade-Related Requirements (TRRs), the Panel found that:

• The imposition on economic operators by the Argentine authorities of one or more of the five requirements identified by the complainants as a condition to import or to obtain certain benefits operates as a single measure (the TRRs measure) attributable to Argentina.
• The five trade-related requirements identified by the Panel as part of the TRRs measure are the following: (a) offsetting the value of imports with, at least, an equivalent value of exports (one-to-one requirement); (b) limiting imports, either in volume or in value (import reduction requirement); (c) reaching a certain level of local content in domestic production (local content requirement); (d) making investments in Argentina (investment requirement); and, (e) refraining from repatriating profits from Argentina (non-repatriation requirement).
• The TRRs measure is inconsistent with Article XI:1 because it has limiting effects on the importation of goods into Argentina.
• The TRRs measure, with respect to the requirement to incorporate local content, is inconsistent with Article III:4 of the GATT 1994 because it modifies the conditions of competition in the Argentine market to the detriment of imported products.

In addition, in response to Japan’s request, the Panel also found that the TRRs measure “as such” is inconsistent with Articles III:4 and XI:1 of the GATT 1994.

The Panel also considered that an additional finding regarding the same measure under Article X:1 of the GATT 1994 was not necessary or useful in resolving the matter at issue.