MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina claims US and EU have the most questioned trade policies at WTO level

Only “two formal WTO complaints against Argentina” since the Kirchner couple have been in office

Argentina highlighted that the administrations of Néstor Kirchner (2003/2007) and Cristina Fernández (2007/2011) were the less reported before the World Trade Organization and warned that that the US and EU are the most questioned members of the WTO regarding their trade policies.

“Our country has been accused 17 times and only two of those complaints took place since former president Néstor Kirchner took office in May 2003,” a communiqué released by the Foreign Ministry stressed, following complaints of Argentina trade policies filed on Friday at the World Trade Organization by several members including the European Union, United States, Japan, Australia and Mexico.

”The complaints filed by 14 members of WTO do not represent a claim against the country and no special court will handle the case. The file does not mention specific cases neither it does request the WTO intervention to determine whether Argentina has failed to comply with international trade agreements,” the communiqué added.

“Among the WTO 157 members, US and EU have received the highest amount of complaints and their trade policies are being investigated by specialized courts. We will accept no external pressure or interference to change our trade policies and will implement all tools allowed by the World Trade Organization to manage our foreign trade” concluded the release.

Last Friday Argentina received a barrage of criticism at the WTO claiming that the lack of transparency in the implementation and administration of its import licensing regime creates profound uncertainty both for exporters and investors in Argentina.