Argentina to force mining companies to replace imports

The Argentinian government announced on Monday that mining companies based on the country will have to submit requests 120 days before importing goods and create a department to “replace imports” for locally-produced products. The new measures come amid a host of formal and informal barriers to imports thrown up by the government so far this year, hitting hard the mining sector.

The decision may be discussed at the World Trade Organization, just like last month’s decision taken by Argentina of nationalizing Repsol YPF’s oil and gas assets.