| Market Opportunity | | | | trade barriers for exporters looking to expand to |
| Since the economic, political, and social crisis in 2001 | | | | new markets. For more information on these barriers |
| Argentina has been growing steadily with an average | | | | visit the WTO website. A recent study conducted by |
| GDP growth of 9%. However, the global financial | | | | the Inter-American Development Bank said that there |
| crisis coped with the decline of commodity prices has | | | | will be a reduction of freight cost of 10% in several |
| reduced its steady growth. In 2008, the GDP grew | | | | Latin American countries including Argentina, this will |
| only 7%. Inflation, estimated to be around 9%, | | | | encourage and increase trade flow between |
| continuous to rise despite the price controls from the | | | | countries. In addition, the MERCOSUR standards are |
| government. | | | | changing to be identical to the norms of the |
| | | | European Union, the United States and Codex |
| Best Industry Segments | | | | Alimentarius. Finally, Argentina prohibits the import of |
| In 2008, imports for Argentina were estimated to be | | | | certain used products such as spare parts, medical |
| of 59.9 billions f.o.b. Its main import partners continue | | | | supplies, automobiles, motorcycles and velocipedes, |
| to be the countries within the Latin American trade | | | | clothing, tires, boats, products containing |
| block of the MERCOSUR. (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay | | | | polychlorinated biphenyl's (PCB's), and products |
| and Uruguay.) Brazil accounts for 34.6 % of the total | | | | containing Asbestos fibers (Amphibole and Chrysotile |
| imports. The US and China are importing at 12,6% | | | | variety). Prospective exporters should research if |
| and 12% respectively. China has in fact, throughout | | | | their product is viable for import and to what rules it |
| the past years, been progressively gaining market | | | | is subject to. Moreover, corruption is still present in |
| presence in Argentina. | | | | the country; exporters may be required to pay an |
| According to the CIA Factbook, in 2008 American | | | | extra cost. |
| goods exports to Argentina accounted for 7.5 billion; | | | | Online Marketing Profile |
| they were up 28.7% from 2007. The top exports | | | | The number of residential Internet lines in Argentina |
| categories were Machinery ($1.9 billion, Electrical | | | | has increased by an average of 19% this past year. |
| Machinery ($926 million), Mineral Fuel (oil) ($832 million), | | | | In fact, Argentina is one of the countries in Latin |
| Organic Chemicals ($639 million), and Plastic ($401 | | | | America with the largest population of Internet users: |
| million). In addition, US exports of private commercial | | | | 6.6 per 100 inhabitants, which is equivalent to 20 |
| services were up by 23,6% compared to 2006 and | | | | million online users. Since Spanish is the third most |
| represented 2.8 billion. | | | | spoken and searched language in the world, |
| Regulatory and Tariff Landscape | | | | advertising in this language could be profitable in |
| All imported goods and services in Argentina are | | | | Argentina as well as in other Spanish speaking |
| subject to an ad valorem duty, which is based on the | | | | countries. Moreover, Argentineans prefer to conduct |
| cost of the goods, their insurance and their freight | | | | researches in their native language rather than in |
| (CIF). Other goods such as alcoholic beverages, soft | | | | English. |
| drinks, syrups, extracts, concentrates and consumer | | | | Popular Argentine Search Websites |
| electronic products are subjects to additional taxes. | | | | According to Searcheninewatch.com, Google |
| Depending on the imported product, there are | | | | Argentina continuous to be the most popular search |
| additional fees and taxes to be paid such as a 0.5% | | | | engine. Yahoo! Argentina is second and MSN is ranked |
| statistical tax on the CIF value (except capital goods) | | | | as third. There are over 19 different search engines |
| and a 21% or 10.5% value added tax (VAT) on the | | | | that have different regional weight. The most popular |
| sum of the CIF value, tariff and statistics fee. There | | | | local search engines are: terra, brujula, grippo, |
| is as well an either 10% or 5.5% advanced VAT on | | | | buscador.clarin, and uolsinectis. |
| the sum of the CIF value for goods imported for | | | | Summary |
| resale and a 3% anticipated profit tax on all retail | | | | Argentina's economy is currently experiencing a |
| goods. Information specifying commodities subject to | | | | slower growth. Nevertheless, thanks to a change in |
| countervailing duties can be found at the | | | | regulations and the reduction of transportation cost, |
| Comisión National de Comercio Exterior | | | | this market looks profitable for US. Exports. For a |
| website. Furthermore, the common external tariff | | | | global online expansion ranks Argentina as a Tier II |
| ranges from 0%-35% (with a 13% average). | | | | market. |
| According to the WTO there are some non-tariff | | | | |