MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Argentine import restrictions trigger protests from port of Buenos Aires workers
Freight truckers and customs’ brokers’ staff paralyzed the Buenos Aires port five terminals for a second day running to protest restrictions on import trade recently implemented, which has caused a collapse in port activities and thus jobs. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesGood morning MercoPress....
Apr 21st, 2012 - 06:38 am - Link - Report abuse 0This “Blockade” was lifted at 03:00 UTC.
More that 2 (two) hours before this article was published...
“News” Agency or “Olds” Agency?
What do you “Think”?
Doesn't matter when it was lifted, they made their point. Your governments policies are costing them their jobs.
Apr 21st, 2012 - 06:44 am - Link - Report abuse 0if the local industry is not prepared to increase production to cover the imports, the imports will ruin the local economy. like what happened in Greece, USA, UK and etc...
Apr 21st, 2012 - 07:46 am - Link - Report abuse 0Surely it make sense for local industry to increase production first.
Apr 21st, 2012 - 07:51 am - Link - Report abuse 01 think
Apr 21st, 2012 - 08:44 am - Link - Report abuse 0I know you think Mercopress is picking on you and not reporting the news you want it to but that's because the news you don't want it to report is much bigger news than the “news” (??) you DO want it to report.
So if the blockade was lifted, is that the end of the downturn for freight drivers and customs staff is it? Business as usual again is it? LOL!
When I came on this site about a month ago after friends told me about it, one of them told me you were one of the more sensible posters on here. I have to tell you: I'm not seeing it.
@5 Joe Bloggs,
Apr 21st, 2012 - 09:54 am - Link - Report abuse 0Who on earth told you that, Joe?
Did they have their fingers crossed when they told you? lol
Think wants to expell everyone & he is a 1st generation squatter himself!
He wants the oil for his fellow malvinistas.
lf they can't have it, he wants none here at all.
Isolde. He's going to be disappointed then, is he not.
Apr 21st, 2012 - 10:07 am - Link - Report abuse 0Think doesn't care if it costs the decent hardworking majority their jobs, he's been suckered into believing the lies and thinks he knows more when actually his grasp on economics is about as strong as his grasp on Falkland's history i.e. zero.
Apr 21st, 2012 - 11:08 am - Link - Report abuse 0Traffic has dropped by over 60% - I guess in thinks little world this is irrelevant.
I agree these matters are best swept under the carpet. Wouldn't want people to think that Turkey Neck is losing control.
Apr 21st, 2012 - 11:14 am - Link - Report abuse 0Who would have thought that blocking imports (to conserve what few U$D they have in the bank) would result in no work coming into the port!!! LOL
Apr 21st, 2012 - 12:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I do feel sorry for these workers though: they have limited opportunity of making 'extra' money compared to the thievery of the Mad Bitch and FatBoy.
(5) Joe Bloggs
Apr 21st, 2012 - 12:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Well ……………… Evidently your friend must be more ”sensible” than you.
Maybe he thinks I’m ”sensible” because my position has been consistent since I started commenting in here, some two years ago….
Maybe he thinks I’m ”sensible” because, opposite so many Turnips in here, I express my opinions without wild exaggerations, fanatical preconceptions and outright lies.
Maybe he thinks I’m ”sensible” because, instead of trying to ”put words in my mouth” or insulting me, as so many try to do in here, he has actually been reading my comments from the “Other Side”…
No secret though that what the Kelper hardlineres hate and fear the most are “sensible” Argentineans.
Are you a hardliner?
Anyhow…., except for a very particular lady once, I never took much notice of you Kelpers.
You were squatting on a small and far away corner of our territory and that was it.
Until the stalled negotiations in the 70’s.
Later on, the stupid War.
Followed by the EEZ and fisheries.
And, finally, we got the current Oil Exploration.
For about 3 years ago it became clear and evident for anybody in South-America that you Kelpers are the spearhead on the British geopolitical plan of domination and exploitation of 12,000,000 square km of South-Atlantic territory.
And you will have to excuse us Argentineans, but we have no desire of aiding or assisting the UK with their Imperial plot………
The labor unions are starting to wake up to the fact that the Empress has no clothes...
Apr 21st, 2012 - 12:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Empress CFK and her advisors thought by implementing measures to cut imports it would boost the trade surplus and local manufacturing by substituting imports.
However, the scheme is not working and now Moreno will have to be sacrificed for his poor judgement to calm the port workers.
“total nonsense and madness”
“And you will have to excuse us Argentineans, but we have no desire of aiding or assisting the UK with their Imperial plot...” Hmm maybe part of our insidious plot was to seed the Argentinian political system with robots, programmed to behave incredibly stupidly. We did fear we may be found out when people noticed CFK-01X's rubbery fake face but we managed to distract from that by switching her into 'thieving dictator-mode'.
Apr 21st, 2012 - 01:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0(12) Chicureo
Apr 21st, 2012 - 01:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I don't know what's your line of business or expertise but......
One thing is evident...
You are NOT an Union man.
Nor any kind of political analyst.
@12 The usual method of the CFKC faithful is to try to undermine the credibility of anyone posting sensible criticism of the Argentine government. My friendly advice is to not give away too much personal information.
Apr 21st, 2012 - 02:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@Think
Apr 21st, 2012 - 02:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You re tactically diverting. As usual.
How is -port activity down %60- good for these Argentinian dock workers?
#14 Agreed! Although as a university student in California, I was a member of the AFL-CIO as I was a stock clerk at night. Very well organized and I received a very good hourly wage. Years ago, a company I represented purchased a small fleet of farm tractors from Italy. The union there actually sponsored a Chilean humble mechanic working for the purchaser to travel to the factory and learn how to properly maintain the fleet. The union did everything, including making him a member, giving him a uniform and entertaining him throughout the stay. It was a perfect example of employer/worker joint cooperation.
Apr 21st, 2012 - 02:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0As far as understanding Argentine politics: You are completely correct. I cannot fathom what's happening, but it looks like a slow-moving train-wreck.
I love this talk of Import substitution, it may work somewhere that has idle capacity, a work ethic or scientists/developers but alas Arg has none of that.
Apr 21st, 2012 - 03:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0All the import restrictions are doing is increasing the already high inflation rate and emptying the shelves, driving people out of business, increasing unemployment and making everyone poorer UNLESS YOU WORK FOR the DICTATORSHIP.
Is the peso 6/1 yet? if not now do you think next week or the week after?
Think do you have ration books yet?
More bad news, as the financial news is talking about the suspended Argentine participation in the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) is already complicating national exports. In a related article, its clear Argentina will be asked to resign from the G20, which will be humiliating. (#18 I think 8/1 or 10/1 is more probable. - Look at the historical Arg. devaluations chart on the WWW.) The real impact of reciprocity will occur in about 7 months according to the WSJ. Did anyone see Spanish television news last night? They're really upset!
Apr 21st, 2012 - 03:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Funny all the newspapers say teh strike was 48 hours not 3 El think? Are they wrong?
Apr 21st, 2012 - 04:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Its getting chilly in BA does anyone know if CFK secured the LNG necessary to keep the country running?
I was in BA during a HUGE black out during the winter IT WAS REALLY SCARY! All the shops locked up immediately even if you were in the middle of dinner.
11 Think
Apr 21st, 2012 - 04:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You forgot to answer my question. In post number 1 you indicated that Mercopress was giving us all out-of-date news. You seem to think that this story is over because the blockade has been lifted for now. Is it business as usual again then is it? The truck drivers and customs officers are back working all of the hours they normally do are they?
A sensible person would answer my question.
Regarding my fellow Kelper friend, “she” (she did tell me you were a chauvinist) said you were one of the better ones from a bad bunch. She was warning me about some of the Malvinista lunatics (Malvi, Marcos and Co) and told me that you weren't as thick as them and that a lot of your posts were quite sensible in relation to theirs. It's all relative though Think so don't flatter yourself. Clearly others on here think you're a nut case though.
Nobody from the islands wants you to do anything at all to aid and assist us but don't cry “foul play” and “warmongers” when you get a bloody nose (or worse) for going to far in your attempts to impede us.
You didn't answer my question from another post either. Where are you right now? You were posting on here in the wee hours of the morning, Argentine time. So are you in Argentina and work as a night watchman, or are you, like me, currently in Europe on business?
@21 The wee small hours are when Think gnaws through his restraints, scuttles into the rec room and manages to tap out a few “blah blah rant Turnips” posts before he's dragged screaming back to the ward by the orderlies.
Apr 21st, 2012 - 04:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 022 Britninja
Apr 21st, 2012 - 04:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0LOL!
I was picturing some lazy over weight old security guard sitting on his arse in a smoke-filled watchroom tapping away on an old computer instead of doing his rounds like he's paid to.
Just joking Think. I have no idea what you do or where you are but I'd be interested to know. Are you an insomniac in Argentina or are you in Europe on about the same time zone as me?
sometimes ones thinking is not always the best, in all this misty haze,
Apr 21st, 2012 - 05:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0but as long as you can out think the thinker, you have something to think about,
do you not .
( 19 ) Chicureo
Apr 21st, 2012 - 05:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You seem to be a sensible person, that’s why I spend some of my time dialoguing with you….
I would really like to know one thing…:
Why do you get this nearly sexual kind of gratification when reading bad things about Argentina?
What have we ever done to you to REALLY justify such hatred?
I myself have always felt a profound physical discomfort anytime things went bad for People and Country on the other side of the Cordillera.
But that’s maybe because a branch of my clan is a Patrician family from Iquique, since Peruvian times ;-)
Besides….
You comment about what the WSJ writes today, in 2012, against Argentina?
Why don’t you “Back-Google” a bit and read what they wrote in 2011?
Or in 2010?
Or in 2009?
Or in 2008?
Or in 2007?
Or in 2006?
Or in 2005?
Or in 2004?
Or in 2003?… Can you see the pattern?
Same people that want to build HidroAysén
Same people that want to get their fingers on CODELCO.
That brings the next question?
Would you want those people get their fingers on CODELCO?
To finish…:
Would you please indicate to me which are the macroeconomic parameters YOU personally can see that will provoke the demise of the Argentinean economy in the next 6 months?
Or 1 year
Or 2 years
Or 3 years
Or 4 years
Or 5 years
Etc.
etc.
etc……
(21) Joe Bloggs
I will consider answering your questions when you begin to show some respect, Bwana Bloggs……
Until now the only thing you have shown is :
1) A “Report to the Editor” for dialoguing in Norwegian with a Norwegian about Norwegian humor.
2) A constant and strenuous” Mantra” about some “Straws” somebody seems to be to “Clutching”….
Not the best start for a dialogue… Don’t you “Think”?
Seems to me that some posters THINK that there is a conspiracy against Argentina and that the WSJ opinions are maligning them in some way. I thought they didn't care what other said though?
Apr 21st, 2012 - 05:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I THINK that this 8 year “economic miracle” is flying apart and they just don't want to admit it.
Are Patacones back in circulation yet? Or are the suppliers taking large denomination bonds as repayment for provincial outstanding invoices?
I wonder what happens when BA runs out of nat gas this winter? Do rates move up MORE than the 500% they already have? BTW is that included in the INDEC inflation number or not? I guess 30-40% inflation and 0 growth is part of the argentino modelo. cue chuckling.
things have never been the same, since she took over
Apr 21st, 2012 - 05:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0#25 Think, Let’s not call it a “nearly sexual kind of gratificatio”, please use Schadenfreude instead.
Apr 21st, 2012 - 06:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0As a teenager, I admired Argentines and played many enjoyable rugby matches against yours. During the UP, Mendoza was like Disney World. Then came 1978 and it was obvious that you were planning to invade us. That was the low point for our two nations. Several years later, as a young officer I had the rare honor to accompany my senior officers at a lunch hosted by our Argentine counterparts at the Centro Naval. Our hosts were charming and from that began a close friendship with a fellow Argentine ensign to this day. I have very fond memories of your country, maintain many friendships and regularly vacation there. I do not hate your country, but I find myself really frustrated on how you squander your opportunities. Chile has many problems and has a long way to go, but at least we’re progressing. You’ve been warned of the consequenses, now we wait for the collapse as we’ve seen it before. I’ll then fly into EZE with empty suitcases and return home with bargains. (It’s been the other way around at times as well.)
As listing the reasons for economic collapse in Argentina:
1. Bad Governance
Your only hope now is China as you need new market capitalization.
25 Think
Apr 21st, 2012 - 06:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0By your post I'll take it that this story is far from over and Mercopress were correct to run it. The import restrictions are having a big effect on lots of people who can't afford it. Everyday workers who live hand to mouth.
29. Officially they are not restricting any imports in fact last year they grew 30% haven't you been reading teh RGS posts at all? Shame on you!
Apr 21st, 2012 - 06:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0So I wonder why you can't get a root canal any longer and people are dropping dead from cancer and HIV because there is nothing to substitute for the imported medications.....strange very strange
NO, NO, NO.
Apr 21st, 2012 - 07:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0We are all wrong! Don't you realise living in Argentina today is like living in paradise with 72 virgins?
The trouble is you are not dead and they all look like the Mad Bitch.
I'm glad I just woke up in Uruguay, what a nightmare!
(28) Mr. Chicureo
Apr 21st, 2012 - 07:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Please......, I'm a humble and minimalistic kind of person.....
Can't we keep the semantics on a simple level?
What Argentina needs is work and social inclusion for everyone.
What Argentina needs is to earn way more than it spends.
What Argentina needs is the return of common sense.
What Argentina doesn't need is smart “Frases Hechas” like “ Market Capitalization” and similar financial “Mumbo-Jumbo Lingo”.
Been there, done that,
Bought the T-shirt.
Think will Argentina have social inclusion when the peso is 10/1 or 16/1?
Apr 21st, 2012 - 08:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Will it earn more if there are more import restrictions and suffer more export restrictions to the USA EU UK?
I agree a return to common sense, does that mean CFK and minions are leaving sometime soon?
This t-shirt you bought... was it imported are there any left? Or are the shelves are scarce as Mate?
he thinks good, but would CFK listen,
Apr 21st, 2012 - 08:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0we all know argentina would well be a lot further up the lader if not for her,
but like most deluded leaders,
her obsesion is driven by her incompetence to run a country properly .
Most countries protect their industry via taxes.
Apr 21st, 2012 - 08:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0tax imports and allow your own industry some breathing room to improve inefficiency and let them become competitive in the world marketplace.
Then you slowly reduce the taxes on the imports again increasing the efficiency of your own industry until you are a leader of a certain industry.
That would be a sensible thing to do. but no KFC blocks the imports of everything meaning many existing companies can't even get the raw materials into the country to make the things they were making.
Let the railways continue in their decline so there's no transport alternatives meaning products from one half of the country can't get to the other half.
CFK is a loony and Peronism's facist ways will never work.
If you review the sad economic history of Chile, the inequity between classes was even greater than yours and we never had the luxury of wealth that your nation has always had. (Let's face it, a hundred years ago your country was one of the wealthiest in the world. (What most people still don't understand is you still are. Sort of like Venezuela...)
Apr 21st, 2012 - 09:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Poverty and the lack of education combined with minimal resources condemned our country to eventually embrace Marxism with disastrous results. I know you have a very low opinion of what we did starting in September 1973, but you should note we had nothing.
Markets were closed to us. We had no access to capital. Our banking industry was bankrupt and unemployment was horrific. Through a very painful process, we opened our markets and privatized many state owned companies. The government kept our copper company, but allowed parallel mining investments to compete. Carefully, the telephone company, our national airline, etc... were all sold. After 2 decades of military control, we returned to a democracy that is fair and honest. Corruption still exists, but at at the lowest level in Latin America. Chile today has the highest per capita income in Latin America. Our retirement funds and our central bank are completely autonomous with excellent oversight. Our country is easy to do business in and we have excellent world wide free trade agreements. Our national defense is rated only behind Brazil. (Your country will never be able to threaten Chile again with another Operation Soberanía as you would be soundly defeated.) How did we accomplish all this? The answer is 40 years of sacrifice, hard work and paying our taxes. Allende didn't like the “Market Capitalization” term either. I owned that t-shirt when I was a teenager.
Well, Chile spend 5% of GDP on the military, Argentina barely 1%. I think you should at least recognize the evidence that Argentina doesn't seem to be interested in threatening you or its neighbors militarily again (yes even the Falklands).
Apr 21st, 2012 - 10:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The difference between Argentina and Chile/Brazil is that your reforms were implemented by the point of a gun, in Brazil in in the 60s and 70s it was straight military rule, and same in Chile from 73 to 91. Argentina did not have such lengthy military rule, there were weak military presidencies alternating with democracy, with the exception of 1976 to 1983.
So Brazil and Chile were under the boot, no one could protest the reforms, the labor unions were banned, no debate was allowed. In Mexico, you had one party dominate politics for 70 years. They also therefore had free reign to do reforms.
So it's very easy to nation build when there is no dissent allowed. Argentina was not like your countries, in Argentina democracy was always verging, and fought for even during the altnernating periods of military/civilian rule. We never had decades long military rule.
#37 There is sanity at least in your country to avoid a military action. We simply don't trust you. Argentina has about 70,000 personnel in the armed forces with a 3B budget, Chile roughly 67,000 with 3.6B. Fairly close until you realize the respective size of our countries. (We also have Peru and Bolivia to contend with.)
Apr 21st, 2012 - 11:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I agree with the fact we had the ability to force through market reforms, but the standard of living for everyone has risen significantly. (We still have a long way to go, but we are the leader in Latin America.) It's clear that Argentina reforming its economy and eventually embracing good governance would positively improve the economies of Mercosur, including Bolivia and Chile. You have a well educated populace with incredible resources and neighbors that are non-aggressive.
Well, if Argentina spent 5% of GDP it would spend over 20 billion in military.
Apr 21st, 2012 - 11:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0My point is, in Argentina the labor Unions were never suppresed, unlike in Brazil or Chile were to this day they remain extremely weak (too weak which is why Chile and Brazil have horrendous wealth distribution). Argentina's labor unions are too strong, so that causes lack of dynamism in reform.
We have non-aggresive neighbors because we have resolved all our border disputes with our neighbors. We are the only country in the Western Hemisphere to have all our land borders settled (with the pending ratification of the Hielos Continentales/Campos de Hielo).
Playing devil's advocate, everyone in Latin America whines about hou Argentina is doing everything wrong... Yet we have the highest living standard in Latin America, with Chile and Uruguay right behind. So the rest of Latin America (except Venezuela) has been doing everything right, Argentina everything wrong, and yet we are still at top.
What would happen if Argentina did everything right? We would be light years ahead of the rest of you (again).
Arguably Argentina should be light years ahead of a lot of countries Tobias.
Apr 21st, 2012 - 11:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Argentina sits on a great deal of resource wealth that is just waiting to be exploited and should be in a superb position to capitalize on it, especially since some of those resources are in short supply.
With a modern, progressive government it could be a incredibly prosperous country.
#39&40 Both with very good points. With good governance, there is no reason why your nation should be again one of the wealthiest countries in the world that would boost your neighbors prosperity as well. You have resolved almost all of your border disputes, why not walk away from the Falklands and accept reality? You have the third highest living standard in Latin America, behind Chile and Uruguay. (Panama may surpass all to be number one by 2015.) Xect is completely right on. Tobias, your last sentence says it all. (Although Chile would still have better seafood and probably overall better wine.)
Apr 21st, 2012 - 11:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@40Xect,
Apr 22nd, 2012 - 06:06 am - Link - Report abuse 0“--it could be an incredibly prosperous country”
Like it used to be in 1900.
And could easily be again.
Unfortunately it'll probably be a good while yet before things change for the better. A few more years of Turkeyneck, then probably two terms of Fat Maximo and his cronies in charge will see Argentina bled dry. Hopefully at that point a decent alternative to the Kirchner dynasty will be available and the voters can have a stab at achieving a true, modern, decent democracy.
Apr 22nd, 2012 - 12:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@39 I'm glad you're aware the best standard of living in the South Atlantic is in the Falklands, a place that isn't in Latin America. Because if it was in Latin America, it would have the best standard of living by miles.
Apr 22nd, 2012 - 12:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Toby, In case you missed it there was a nice article in Lanacion about Mendoza wineries already feeling the pain of losing the USA trade preferences, next is EU and UK. I guess you'll see a lot of wineries shutting down soon. They talk about all their profit coming from exports and losing money at home because they can only sell cheap wine with no markup and little or no profit.
Apr 22nd, 2012 - 01:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Funny wasn't I saying that last week yet you denied it?
@45 Tesco is going to struggle to fill it's lower shelves with £2.99 pickling-Malbec now these preferences have been removed.
Apr 22nd, 2012 - 02:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I normally pickle my vegetables and eggs in argentinian malbec before winter comes and it keeps then very well preserved. I guess I'm going to have to find something else to pickle them in.
well we now have BRITISH corned beef.
Apr 22nd, 2012 - 07:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0tickle
@41
Apr 22nd, 2012 - 08:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I don't think Panama is an example of wealth distribution. I have not been in Panama, but a neighbor has been, I've seen photos. The city center looks like Singapore with the buildings and skyscrapers, but move beyond the highways and Ciudad del Este would look quite idyllic. So even if they achieve a higher per capita, you would find that the number is a grotesque masquerade.
Yeah, chilean seafood is good. Though I remember in Amazing Race Latinoamerica that when the teams had to do a detour one of them was eating a chilean seafood dish, which is served cold. LOL... I'm sure its good in moderation but it was like 2 kilos of it. Of course as expected for Amazing race, that was to induce emetic reactions.
Chile is great for anything related to the sea. Si vamos entonces compramos pescado para parrillar en la playa. Y las playas en si buenas. Ahora si solo tuvieran ojotas talla gigante para nosotros los argentinos patones (no todos obviamente). Dos primas y yo tenemos pies muy grandes (largos) y no podemos comprar ojotas en Chile, directamente no nos entran.
@48 I don't know what the Amazing Race is. Is that something I have to be a pleb and get one of those pay-for-3D-adverts sky box things to watch? I don't understand why plebs always buy massive tvs just so they can watch adverts for even bigger tvs.
Apr 22nd, 2012 - 10:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Being a pleb must be a continuous cycle of tv-size envy-based misery.
Thank goodness I'm not one.
It's late sunday, time to drop the bottle. Work day for you tomorrow.
Apr 23rd, 2012 - 12:24 am - Link - Report abuse 0@50 It might be late afternoon for all you know. However, all you need to know is it wasn't an Argentinian bottle, that's for sure.
Apr 23rd, 2012 - 10:49 am - Link - Report abuse 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
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