Argentina’s import licensing requirements are discretionary and unfairly restrict U.S. exports, the trade representative said.
Requirements by Argentina that importers agree to commitments such as agreeing to export a certain value of Argentine goods in exchange for authorization to import U.S. goods also create a disadvantage to U.S. exporters, the office said.
The European Union, Mexico and Japan have also requested panels to look at Argentina’s import restrictions, the trade representative said.
The United States requested WTO consultations with Argentina on Aug. 21.
Argentina requested WTO consultations with the United States in a formal complaint of its own on Aug. 30. Among its objections are the U.S. import prohibition of fresh chilled or frozen beef from Argentina and failure to recognize certain areas of Argentina's territory as free of foot-and-mouth disease.
The two counties held consultations on Sept. 20-21 but did not resolve the dispute.
