Argentina blocks iPhone sales in bid to strengthen economy

Posted:
in iPhone edited January 2014
Argentina has temporarily blocked sales of certain electronics including Apple's iPhone and RIM's BlackBerry in order to stabilize the country's ailing economy, while suggesting that companies must build plants in the country to resume sales.



The decision by the Argentinian government claims that the selective consumer electronics ban is meant to slow rising inflation and correct the disparity between the pesos and U.S. dollar, according to website Manuals.ws.



In order to continue smartphone sales in Argentina, Apple must build a plant or partner with a local company to manufacture the iPhone. RIM is reportedly looking to partner with an existing plant so that it can continue sales in the region.



Other handset makers like Motorola, Nokia and Samsung have already moved or built plants in Argentina's Tierra del Fuego free zone after the government passed the Internal Revenue Law of 2009, which added a 20.48 percent tax to the existing 21 percent VAT for certain imported electronic devices.



The new ban is an extension of the Argentina Ministry Industry's March 2011 decision to eliminate the automatic import license of certain smartphones, forcing Apple and RIM to wait 60 to 180 days for Customs Authority approval to sell their devices.



As of October, iPhone and BlackBerry sales comprised 60 percent (machine translation) of the total market, according to local site Fortunaweb.



The ban is part of a larger government initiative to strengthen the Argentinian economy which has seen a steep decline since 2009. The Economist reported in December article that a slowing year-to-year GDP blamed on decreased demand for agricultural commodities and huge government subsidies have caused the country to enact tighter controls on capital flight.



Former carrier Claro's homepage still advertises the iPhone



Apple's Argentina iPhone webpage remains active, however carriers' websites appear have halted sales of the smartphone. The change seems to have taken place suddenly as carrier Claro has left an advertisement for the iPhone on its homepage but has no means to purchase the device online.
«134567

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 122
    i guess they can replace the iphones with a boat load of nokia phones.



    they've got containers full of them. hurry up!!
  • Reply 2 of 122
    blursdblursd Posts: 123member
    Dear Argentina,



    No.



    Signed ... the tech companies of the world.
  • Reply 3 of 122
    simtubsimtub Posts: 277member
    Next... Are they going to invade the Falklands again!
  • Reply 4 of 122
    stupid argentina
  • Reply 5 of 122
    apple ][apple ][ Posts: 9,233member
    Apple should definitely not build any plants there.



    So iPhones are banned in Argentina, because of their fascist rules? So what. Apple doesn't need Argentina.



    Apple can't just go around accommodating the demands of every third world country on the planet.



    Build plants here or else we ban your phone! Sounds like a dictator run, fascist country! Let Apple pull out of Argentina completely! It'll be too bad for any Argentinian Apple fans, but blame your pathetic country for that, not Apple.
  • Reply 6 of 122
    tbelltbell Posts: 3,146member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ghostface147 View Post


    stupid argentina



    Nothing stupid about trying to protect the people who the government supposedly serves. RIM is complying, as did other manufacturers. Not so stupid after all.
  • Reply 7 of 122
    isn't argentina in the wto?
  • Reply 8 of 122
    Argentinian Protectionism = American Protectionism. The math is simple. Note to the fascists in Argentina: Ban our products, we ban YOURS. As long as you don't need our business, things will work out just fine for you. However . . . .
  • Reply 9 of 122
    8002580025 Posts: 175member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post


    In order to continue smartphone sales in Argentina, Apple must build a plant or partner with a local company to manufacture the iPhone.



    No plant? No sales. Can you say strong arm tactics?



    "Don't pressure me Argentina

    The truth is we'll never build here"
  • Reply 10 of 122
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post


    Apple should definitely not build any plants there.



    So iPhones are banned in Argentina, because of their fascist rules? So what. Apple doesn't need Argentina.



    Apple can't just go around accommodating the demands of every third world country on the planet.



    Build plants here or else we ban your phone! Sounds like a dictator run, fascist country! Let Apple pull out of Argentina completely! It'll be too bad for any Argentinian Apple fans, but blame your pathetic country for that, not Apple.



    As if USA wasn't protectionist itself... HA!



    iPhones are not more important than people's jobs. That's what they're protecting here.



    The information given in this article about RIM is outdated, also.



    And Foxxconn is opening a factory in Brazil. I don't know if they'll even open a factory in Argentina as well. Probably not. But who knows.
  • Reply 11 of 122
    galbigalbi Posts: 968member
    Let the Argentina bashing begin.
  • Reply 12 of 122
    In other news, Argentina's economy has entered a depression as millions of citizens boycott the purchase of domestic-made products.
  • Reply 13 of 122
    And I always thought Hugo Chavez is ruling Venezuela and not Argentina.
  • Reply 14 of 122
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by TBell View Post


    Nothing stupid about trying to protect the people who the government supposedly serves. RIM is complying, as did other manufacturers. Not so stupid after all.



    Black market will be awesome down in that third world hellhole of a country.
  • Reply 15 of 122
    apple ][apple ][ Posts: 9,233member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by flexo View Post


    And Foxxconn is opening a factory in Brazil. I don't know if they'll even open a factory in Argentina as well. Probably not. But who knows.



    It remains to be seen how that turns out.



    There were supposed to be iPads ready in time for Christmas. That obviously was a false statement from the Brazilian president.
  • Reply 16 of 122
    cgjcgj Posts: 276member
    I don't see how stopping people going out and purchasing an expensive item (thus paying a lot of VAT on the item) is supposed to help anybody...



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by simtub View Post


    Next... Are they going to invade the Falklands again!



    Better not - they got there asses kicked last time.
  • Reply 17 of 122
    LOL and some people complain about US government interference in business.



    On the other hand, maybe we can do the same thing and bring back some manufacturing jobs to the US.
  • Reply 18 of 122
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,176member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by CGJ View Post


    I don't see how stopping people going out and purchasing an expensive item (thus paying a lot of VAT on the item) is supposed to help anybody...



    They're strongly encouraging manufacturers to build in Argentina, producing decent paying jobs for their citizens rather than simply some tax money from the importers. It might be a little heavy-handed, perhaps not. The employment situation there may require strong measures.
  • Reply 19 of 122
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by TBell View Post


    Nothing stupid about trying to protect the people who the government supposedly serves. RIM is complying, as did other manufacturers. Not so stupid after all.



    No, it's stupid. When you buy things, you support your economy, whether it be a cell contract, some local accessory shop with ugly cases at a pulga....whatever. I'd tell Argentina to go F themselves and tell them to F Messi as well.
  • Reply 20 of 122
    dasanman69dasanman69 Posts: 13,002member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by APPLEBIRD View Post




    Black market will be awesome down in that third world hellhole of a country.



    Argentina is far from a third world country and I'm guessing they're tired of being a puppet for the US.
Sign In or Register to comment.