Boycotts in Buenos Aires Set to End Tonight
ARGENTINA - Farmers in Buenos Aires launched an eight-day protest last Friday, against a rise in government export taxes and drought-aid law, which is due to end at midnight today (4 September). Farm leaders involved with the boycott have said, however that demonstrations will continue nationwide over the next week, according to the Buenos Aires Herald.Protesters have boycotted all grain exports and livestock sales over the past week in a bid to get President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner's government to eliminate or reduce export duties.
Yesterday it was reported by the Buenos Aires Herald that the Agricultural Minister Emilio Monzó had been sacked by the Buenos Aires Governor, Daniel Scioli. Eduardo Buzzi, the leader of the Argentine Small Farmers Federation (FAA), one of the four farming bodies supporting the boycotts, said that Emilio Monzó had been "the best minister Scioli had."
The Buenos Aires Herald reports today that Ariel Franetovich is the new Minister of Agricultural Affairs. In a press conference today, the Minister commented on the boycotts, "I think that demonstration or tractor protests are not appropriate. The time and energy the sector spends to organize these demonstrations should be used to establish the dialogue."
In March 2008, nationwide protests on soy exports brought the country to a near stand-still. Argentina is a lead exporter in beef, corn, coy oil and soy beans. With export curbs and price controls in local markets on top of a severe drought, anti-government sentiments have increased among producers.
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