Argentine President Vows
Not To Give In To
Farmers' Strike
Argentine President
Cristina Fernandez vowed
on Tuesday that the
government would firmly
rejected demands by
farmers prolonging their
days-long strike against
an export tax hike.
Pledging not to give in
to extortion, the
president said the
government would
negotiate, but the
strike, which began
March 13, should stop
first.
Facing the largest farm
and ranch protest in
decades and her most
serious challenge since
she took office, the
president said in a
speech that she
understands
agriculture's interests,
but also wants farmers
to know she is the
president for all
Argentine people.
Argentine farmers, who
are protesting against a
government measure to
increase soya export tax
from 35 percent to 45
percent, have blocked
roads with trucks and
tractors and vowed to
continue the strike as
long as necessary.
The tax hike is aimed at
garnering more revenue
for the government amid
soaring soybean prices,
but the farmers claim
the government is
robbing them of their
money.
The strike has forced
the country to face a
looming food shortage of
farmed beef, dairy
products, oil and
grains.
Argentina is one of the
world's leading
exporters of beef and
soybeans.
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