SOUTH AMERICA, CENTRAL AMERICA, AND CARIBBEAN ISLANDS 



In South America, domestic supplies of dark tobacco are plentiful, but high-quality light tobacco is needed 

 in many countries. 



Several countries limit imports of light tobacco as well as cigarettes. Duty rates and restrictions have increased 

 in recent years. 



Currently there are three "trading groups," LAFTA, CACM, and CARIFTA. 



LAFTA. 



The designation LAFTA refers to the Latin American Free Trade Association, whose members are Argentina, 

 Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. They have a common 

 Ust of tariff items on which member countries plan to reduce duties to zero (0) for imports from member countries. 



CACM. 



The designation CACM refers to the Central American Common Market, comprised of Costa Rica, El 

 Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. More than 95 percent of their tariff rates have been unified in a 

 common external tariff that foUows a modified SITC nomenclature. Trade among members, with few exceptions, is 

 relatively free. 



CARIFTA. 



This designation refers to the Caribbean Free Trade Association, which became functional on May 1, 1968. 

 The last two members to join were Jamaica and Montserrat; they joined on August 1, 1968. Other members include 

 Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts-Nevis-AnguiUa, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and Trinidad and 

 Tobago— i.e., all the English-speaking territories of the Caribbean except the Bahamas, British Honduras, and the 

 British Virgin Islands. Goods shipped between the territories wiU be duty free, except for alcoholic beverages and 

 some consumer products. 



ARGENTINA (Member of LAFTA) 





1968 



1957 



Item 



Specific 

 rate (local 

 currency) 



Ad val. 

 rate 



Total duty, 

 U.S. equiv.i 



Specific 

 rate (local 

 currency) 



Ad val. 

 rate 



Total duty, 

 U.S. equiv. i 



Tobacco: 



Unmanufactured 



Manufactured: 



Cigars 



Cigarettes 



Pesos 

 per kg. 



Percent 

 2 140 



110 

 110 



70 



U.S. dol. 

 per lb. 



Gold pesos 

 per kg. 

 0.4838 



1.794 

 0.4838 



Percent 

 (3) 



50 

 (?) 



U.S. dol 

 per lb. 

 3 0.01 



1.40 

 3 03 



Cut tobacco 



01 







Conversion rate, 1957: 65 paper pesos = US$1.00 (2.27 paper pesos = 1 gold peso), and 1968: 350 peso (100 centavos = 

 US$1.00). 



2 This rate for other tobacco applies to cigarette tobacco (flue-cured and burley). Cigar wrapper was lowered in the K.R. GATT 

 Negotiations and will be 25 percent by January 1, 1972. 



3 Import surcharges and other charges in effect in 1957 not readily available. 



Note: For 1968 there was a surcharge equivalent to 4 percent of ocean freight charges on all imports, also a statistical ta,\ of 

 IVi percent of the CIF value. 



Unless otherwise noted, there is a prior deposit required of 40 percent of CIF VALUE @ 180 days. 



