On 1 March 2012, the Commission requested explanations from Argentina after the latter urged its companies to stop all imports originating from the UK in the context of a dispute over the Falkland Islands.
Furthermore, on 30 March 2012, the EU issued a joint statement with 13 other WTO members expressing concerns regarding what it said were trade-restrictive measures taken by Argentina. According to the statement, Argentina announced regulations requiring pre-registration, review and approval of each and every import transaction in January 2012. The statement urged Argentina to remove these trade restrictions. The EU also reiterated concerns that Argentina’s customs officials use minimum values instead of transaction values as required by the WTO Customs Valuation Agreement in assessing duties on imports.
Argentina maintained that the measures were compatible with WTO rules, adding that it had undertaken new measures to facilitate the processing of imports.
