Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s desperate Argentina, struggling to stabilize its sluggish economy, has turned its regulatory eye on shoppers who send money to overseas retailers — by limiting the number of online purchases citizens can make each year to two.
Wednesday’s announcement from the government came as a last-ditch effort to address its budget shortfall. The country’s foreign reserves have dropped to its lowest levels in more than seven years, The Associated Press said.
Beginning immediately, shoppers online and by mail-order might only make two buys a year, AP reported. After that, they have to fill out extensive paperwork and register the purchase as an import — and pay accompanying fees and taxes.
That announcement comes just one day after the government said residents will now have to submit a form to the tax agency in order to receive any items ordered abroad — and pay taxes, up to 50 percent of the purchase price.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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