Argentina's import policy shifts spark controversy over electric cars and toxic waste

The Argentine government has launched a new import quota for 50,000 hybrid or electric vehicles that will be exempt from customs duties starting in January 2027. To qualify, the cars must have a FOB value of no more than US$16,000, a limit that industry groups say favours Chinese manufacturers and pressures other brands to lower prices.

Separately, the Circle of Environmental Policies released a report warning that the deregulation of import controls enacted in December 2023 has allowed millions of kilograms of hazardous waste to enter the country. Items such as used clothing, toys, cosmetics containing micro‑plastics, batteries, tires and obsolete machinery are now arriving without technical checks, shifting environmental and health risks to the population and local governments. "With these deregulations the Argentine State has relinquished its ability to stop the entry of dangerous products," said Eugenia Testa, director of the CPA.