As a member of the Southern Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR), Argentina maintains relatively low trade barriers with Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay but applies a high tariff on all goods and services coming into Argentina from countries outside MERCOSUR. This year, the common external tariff rate for MERCOSUR is 13.5 percent. Because the common external tariff rate is applied to most of the world?s countries, Argentina's average tariff rate is 13.5 percent this year, up from 7.5 percent last year. As a result, its trade policy score is 1 point worse this year. In an effort to stimulate the economy, MERCOSUR has allowed Argentina to raise tariffs on consumer goods, in some cases up to 35 percent, while eliminating tariffs on capital goods. Argentina maintains some non-tariff barriers, such as quotas on automobiles. According to the U.S. Department of State,
"Customs procedures are opaque and timeconsuming, thus raising the cost for importers".

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