Argentina extends tax breaks on imports of food and medicines until year-end

The Argentine government has extended until December 31 the regime that allows the import of over 3,200 essential products without paying VAT or Income Tax, as formalized by ARCA resolution 5868/2026 Source: lavozar. The measure, which expired on Tuesday, covers food, beverages, hygiene and cleaning products, medicines, medical equipment, and inputs for small and medium-sized enterprises Source: clarin.

Impact on imports

• Imported products now account for about 10% of sales in major supermarket chains, coming mainly from Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador, France, Italy, China and Thailand Source: lavozar.
• The entry of food and beverages reached US$ 2,293 million in 2025, a 56% increase from US$ 1,465 million in 2024 Source: clarin.
• However, the industry notes that imports remain low relative to exports, representing just over 10% of the sector's export value Source: lavozar.

Consumer trends

Clarín highlights a "nostalgia effect" reminiscent of the 1990s, driving consumer interest in products that had disappeared during closed-economy years, such as Danish cookies in blue tins and Uruguayan dulce de leche Source: clarin.

Previous modifications

Weeks earlier, ANMAT had reduced tariffs for approximately 75% of pharmaceutical and medical product importers through a new calculation system based on declared FOB value .