As of October 2, the expansion of the Puerto Iguazú Free Trade Zone to the municipalities of Posadas. y Bernardo de Irigoyen, in the province of Misiones. The measure was published today (1.10.2025), through the Resolution 1449 / 2025 in the Official Gazette.
The objective of the expansion, as detailed in the preamble to the regulation, is to mitigate the trade disadvantages associated with the customs regimes of neighboring cities in Brazil and Paraguay, such as the Brazilian "Lojas Francas," which allow the sale of imported products duty-free.
The rule approves a new Regulation for the Functioning and Operation of the Misiones Free Trade Zone, replacing the one in force since 1999. Among its main novelties They stand out:
- Authorization of a duty-free shop under customs control for tourists, where they can purchase duty-free merchandise in quantities compatible with personal luggage and for non-commercial purposes.
- Development of warehousing, commercial, service and industrial activities.
- Industrial processes will be exclusively for export and must be environmentally safe.
- Handling and packaging of goods, including sorting, packaging, batching, mixing, and finishing.
Regional and tourist impact
The government stated that the expansion seeks to strengthen Misiones' economy, improve regional competitiveness, and take advantage of its strategic location in northeastern Argentina, on the triple border with Paraguay and Brazil.
The international steps Posadas-Encarnación (Paraguay) y Bernardo de Irigoyen-Dionisio Cerqueira (Brazil) will be included within the benefits of the Free Trade Zone, leveling the playing field opposite the twin cities of the neighboring countries.
The scheme also aims to boost tourism as an engine of economic development, recognizing this sector as a means of exporting services and one of Misiones' main resources. Puerto Iguazú is currently one of the 13 free trade zones authorized and operational by ARCA-Customs.
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