The government eliminated export duties for aluminum, steel, and related products.

The Government of Javier Milei has formalized the temporary elimination of export duties on aluminum, steel, and their derivative products. The measure will remain in effect until December 31, 2025 or until countries that apply an import tariff equal to or greater than 45% on the value of the goods reduce such duty. Through Decree No. 726/2025, published in the Official Gazette, President Javier Milei ordered that export duties on a series of products included in the Mercosur Common Nomenclature (N.C.M.) be reduced to 0%. Meanwhile, the Government clarified that the tax reduction will only apply "when exported to those countries that, at the time the measure comes into effect, apply to such goods an 'ad valorem' import tariff equal to or greater than forty-five percent (45%)."

The objective of this provision is to promote Argentine exports to those markets that maintain high levels of tariff protection, thus improving the competitiveness of national products in those destinations. In this context, it was established that the Secretariat of Production Coordination, under the Ministry of Economy, will be responsible for issuing the necessary clarifying, supplementary, and operational regulations to ensure the correct application of the measure. Meanwhile, it must notify the Revenue and Customs Control Agency (ARCA) of the list of countries that impose an "ad valorem" import tariff equal to or greater than 45% on the goods covered, and report any changes that occur in that tariff scheme. Finally, the authorities specified that the validity of the measure is temporary. Therefore, it will apply to export operations carried out from the day after the publication of the decree until December 31, 2025, inclusive, or until a reduction in the established import tariffs occurs, whichever comes first.

Benefited products

According to the annex accompanying the decree, the products that will benefit from this measure are as follows: 72.08: flat-rolled products of non-alloy iron or steel, of a width of 600 mm or more, hot-rolled, not clad or coated. 72.09: flat-rolled products of non-alloy iron or steel, of a width of 600 mm or more, cold-rolled, not clad or coated. 72.10: flat-rolled products of non-alloy iron or steel, of a width of 600 mm or more, clad or coated. 72.11: flat-rolled products of non-alloy iron or steel, of a width of less than 600 mm, not clad or coated. 72.12: flat-rolled products of non-alloy iron or steel, of a width of less than 600 mm, clad or coated. 72.24: other alloy steels in ingots or other primary forms; intermediate products of other alloy steels. 72.25: flat-rolled products of other alloy steels, of a width of 600 mm or more. 72.26: flat-rolled products of other alloy steels, of a width of less than 600 mm. 73.04: tubes and hollow profiles, seamless, of iron or steel. 76.01: unwrought aluminum. 76.04: bars and profiles, of aluminum. 76.05: aluminum wire. 76.06: plates and strips, of aluminum, of a thickness greater than 0.2 mm. 76.07: thin sheets and strips, of aluminum (including those printed or fixed on paper, cardboard, plastic, or similar supports), of a thickness less than or equal to 0.2 mm (excluding the support).