Argentina Extends Tax‑Free Import Relief for Basic Goods Until Year‑End

The Argentine government approved Resolution 5868/2026, extending the tax exemption on roughly 3,200 essential products through 31 December. The measure removes both value‑added tax (IVA) and income‑tax (Ganancias) on items such as food, alcoholic and non‑alcoholic drinks, personal‑hygiene goods, household cleaners, medicines, medical equipment and supplies for micro, small and medium enterprises.

A month earlier, the National Administration of Drugs, Foods and Medical Technology (ANMAT) lowered tariffs for medical and pharmaceutical imports by changing the calculation method to a FOB‑based system, cutting costs for about 75 % of importers. Despite the incentives, import volumes have not surged; imported goods now represent about 10 % of supermarket sales, coming mainly from Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador, France, Italy, China and Thailand. The policy aims to improve product availability and modestly curb retail prices without creating a large market boom.