Overview
- Pro Tejer says deregulated cross‑border sales and unchecked e‑commerce platforms put a value chain that employs roughly 500,000 people at risk.
- Chinese goods now account for about 70% of Argentina’s imported textiles, with Chinese textile imports up 109% year over year between January and October, according to industry data.
- In March, the government cut import duties on clothing and footwear to 20% from 35%, reduced fabric tariffs to 18% from 26%, and lowered yarn duties to 12%–16%.
- Industry reports say platform shipments enter via the door‑to‑door courier system without standard labeling, quality certifications or local taxes, while Chinese postal subsidies such as ePacket reduce logistics costs.
- Proposed responses include restoring reference import values to deter underinvoicing, a bill from deputy Miguel Ángel Pichetto to add a 30% levy and require platform registration, and calls from Mercado Libre for equal regulatory treatment.