The combination of a “Cheap” dollar during the last year and the deregulation of foreign trade He hit local production. To imports at record levels -32% of GDP, the highest record in 135 years– The Hair of smuggling from bordering countries, which feeds a parallel commercial circuit and aggravates unfair competition.
As well as Scope He warned of the arrival of beers from different parts of the country, also occurs with products such as Sneakers, toys, ice cream shops, cigarettes, food and drinks, leather goods and textiles.
“The situation worsened. Today more illegal than legal products enter.”recognize Fabián Hryniewiczdirector of the Border Commission and illegality of Came According to their testimony, transnational bands operate with an oiled logistics, use large vehicles and take advantage of secondary border crossings to the Courier clandestine service, which delivers appliances at home “with a deposit included”.
Even, currently it is observed that smuggling pressure is no longer limited to the northern provinces: it reaches cities such as Mendoza, San Luis or La Pampawhere until recently the phenomenon was marginal.
“Currently, the amount of products that enter the country cannot be quantified, but the situation was aggravated in recent months due to the exchange rate,”said Hryniewicz, who explained that for that he requested a report from Customs about the number of tons of border transnational smuggling, but did not provide him with the information.
From the Argentine Industrial Union (UIA), For their part, they held meetings with the Ministry of Security to raise the need to “Combat and stop the entry of smuggling.” They warned that “This increase in informality is a risk to consumers, and generates unfair competition and additional pressure on the formal sector of the economy, which is very penalized by high current tax pressure.”
Footwear and toys, among the most beaten items
The documents of the Footwear industry (CIC) They reveal that the situation of the sector is critical. Operations carried out in CABA, La Matanza and Flower Zone detected premises that sell sports shoes import in an irregular manner, in many cases without mandatory labeling or records of Import against AFIP. The “trout” brands arrive from China, Chile or Peru, and are sold at prices impossible to match local manufacturers.
“Bidder fraud is a structural threat” “holds Horacio Moschettofrom the CIC. It is not just about tax evasion, but of unfair competition that weakens the entire chain: designers, operators, workshops, shops, suppliers.
In the prelude to Children’s Day, the Toy camera also alert by the growing circulation of insecure, low quality and certification products. He 30% The market would be composed of items entered by smuggling or sold in illegal channels: fairs, social networks, e-commerce platforms. Online sale, especially “digital manteros”, escapes all control.
“Informality not only puts national manufacturers at risk: it can also be fatal to a child”says the statement, which details cases of unprotected electrical toys, flammable stuffed animals and products with small parts or toxic substances.
Dollar, taxes and social boomerang
Among the arguments, in addition to Cheap dollarfrom the Came They underline the fiscal pressure as another factors that take away competition to local products. “The products that are sold in Argentina, without considering certain issues, have a gondola of 38% gondola for fiscal cost, if you add the different tariffs such as Iibb, personal goods and profits.”
In that line, from Came they propose Anti -cyclical measures In border cities: when the dollar favors us, that taxes rise; When not, go down to zero rate.
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The entry of illegal products discourages the investment, pushes the closure of shops and increases unemployment. “There are more unemployed people, the effect is boumeran,” said Hryniewicz. This is also added that today legal imports They grow exponentially, while Exports barely rise 2% and only discourage local production, which brings less employment.
From the SME sector they insist that the solution cannot come only from specific operations. “A comprehensive policy is needed: protect national production, simplify the tax system and guarantee an effective control of controls, both on borders and in physical and online shops,” they say from Came.
Source: Ambito
