The government continues to deepen its plan Import deregulation. Currently, the Secretariat of Production Coordination studies freeing the Import of used machinery For some sectors, such as agricultural machinery, medical equipment and machines for the energy sector.
This was stated by the Secretary of State Transformation Maximilian .
Fariña announced that there would be news in the following weeks, although there are still no definitions: “This happens in several sectors: agricultural, industrial and productive sectors. That is why we are working for the prohibitions to be for security issues, and if you want to enter something that has a guarantee, it is in good condition and (if the producer) wants to enter the country, that can do so, always thinking that it is necessary To generate More employment and added value”.
On the one hand, some sectors celebrate the possible opening. Fabián Castillo, president of the Federation of Commerce and Industry of the City of Buenos Aires (Fecoba), is in favor of opening the importation of used machinery: “We need cutting -edge technology to be competitive and export. But we cannot lower costs. Brazil and China have a scale, we have to make differentiation in the product, we need machinery and spare parts, and many are imported. ”
However, the metallurgical sector is on alert for the potential measured as it would affect local producers. “The impact of repealing it is very strong, because it allows all types of machinery and equipment used to enter, therefore the competition is unfair”, They claim concerned from the Association of Metallurgical Industrialists of the Argentine Republic (Adimra).
Imported goods could enter the country at a lower price than it costs to produce them border inside. Although users of these inputs would benefit from greater competition and better prices, internal producers feel at risk. “Local producers have a Tax charge of more than 50%, an importer only 14% and an office “, They warn some metallurgics.
With regard to competitiveness, from different sectors they consider that the advantage of importing would be only on prices, because it is very difficult to have the traceability of the goods used, so quietly machinery could be imported in very bad conditions and medical supplies that could end damaging public health services.
Adimra sent a letter to the Secretary of Production Coordination Pablo Lavigne, expressing his concern about the measure. Adimra warns that allowing the acquisition of used capital goods, not only discourages investment in national manufacturing technology, “also negatively impacts local businesses, compromising your ability to compete and develop“.
“This measure would affect manufacturers of agricultural machinery, equipment for oil and gas, medical equipment, ships, etc. There are more than 3,500 companies that generate about 70,000 direct jobs“, they warn worried from Adimra.
Beyond the criticisms of the association to this initiative, the metallurgical ones are willing to work on possible changes that the State wants to make in the matter. The association, however, still had no responses from Secretary Lavigne.
From the Ministry of Commerce, they confirmed to Clarion that this measure is being evaluated but that would not give more information until the policy is defined.
Enzo Iasevoli, president of the Argentine Manufacture Hospital Chamber (CAEHFA), has no doubts regarding the consequences of a possible opening to imports. “It is not convenient to bring used products because The industry is completely destroyed of teams in Argentina, we are talking about many employees in the street. In fact, what are manufacturers going to do? The worst thing is that they also want to deregulate the issue of import importation for any company, without considering Anmat’s qualifications. ”
From other industrial sectors they warn: “On raining, wet. They already opened the import of products and now they want to open the arrival of used machinery. It has already happened that they matter junk, or do not comply with the rules. Several industries will collapse, as happened with The railroadsthat each time they used worse quality inputs and imported broken cars, and thus the train was destroyed. ”
Resolution in force 909/94
Currently governs Resolution 909/94 For the importation of used capital goods, which establishes a series of conditions and aliquots based on the product to be imported.
On the one hand, Annex I frames the assets that must previously process the import certificate of used goods (Cibu), which must appear before customs at the time of importing. The Cibu aims to analyze whether this import affects the existing national industry on that product.
Second, the Anexo ii It establishes the ban for certain capital goods of multiple items such as machinery for the agricultural, energy, health, construction and transportation sector, among others.
Finally, the capital goods included in Annex III are exempted from processing the Import Certificate of Used Assets (CIB).
From the metallurgical sector they point out that there is space to continue improving this resolution. However, “its elimination not only discourages investment in national manufacturing technology, but also negatively impacts local companies, compromising their ability to compete and develop. Added to the serious impact on safety and quality for users who acquire these products ”.