The UK government has changed its policy on arms exports to Argentina. On 27 June 2018, the government announced that it would consider granting export licences for military and dual-use goods and technology to military end users in Argentina, so long as such items were not judged to enhance Argentine military capabilities.
Since 2012, UK government policy had been to reject any licence applications for military and dual-use exports to military end users in Argentina except in exceptional circumstances.
Following the announcement, the UK government will continue to refuse licences for exports that would enhance Argentine military capabilities, but will consider licence applications for exports of “like-for-life” equipment, or equipment that replicates existing Argentine military capabilities.
The UK government also stipulated in its statement that licences would only be granted for exports that would not harm UK defence or security interests. Additionally, all licence applications for defence equipment and technology will continue to be assessed on a case-by-case basics against the consolidated EU and UK national arms export licencing criteria.
Sir Alan Duncan, UK Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, announced the policy change in a written statement to the House of Commons and House of Lords. Sir Duncan attributed the change to an improved UK-Argentine relationship following the election of Argentinian President Mauricio Macri in December 2015.
To further understand how the changes to the UK’s arms export policy may affect your business, please contact our Deloitte Global Export Controls and Sanctions team.
