This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7323152.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Argentina poised to act on farms Argentine farmers continue strike
(about 12 hours later)
The Argentine government is expected to announce a series of measures to try to end a crippling strike by farmers over rises in taxes on agricultural goods. Argentine farmers have said they will continue a crippling 19-day strike after rejecting a series of new government measures as insufficient.
President Cristina Fernandez will unveil subsidies for small and medium-scale farmers, local media said. President Cristina Fernandez announced rebates on new export taxes for small- and medium-size farmers but refused to rescind a controversial tax rise.
Blockades by farmers, who have been protesting for 19 days, have caused shortages of some products. She asked farmers to "please" lift roadblocks that have caused shortages of products and blocked key exports.
They briefly halted their action on Friday but resumed the blockades after talks failed to produce a breakthrough. Farmers are furious over new export levies of up to 45% in some cases.
Farmers are furious over the government's decision to introduce a new sliding scale of export taxes, raising levies in some cases up to 45%. Farmers said their strike would continue until Wednesday at least, but a leader of one of the country's biggest farm groups said dairy products would be allowed to go to market.
No compromise
"I ask you once again to please let the trucks through and think of yourselves as part of the country not the owners of the country," President Fernandez said on Monday in a nationally televised appeal, her third such speech on the issue.
With Economy Minister Martin Lousteau, she announced transport subsidies for farms that are far from markets, some tax rebates for small and medium-sized farms and credit plans for dairy farmers.
But there was no compromise on the key sticking point of a new sliding scale of tax export taxes that would raise levies in some cases up to 45%.
After her speech, the leaders of the four main striking farm groups said on television that the government's offer was insufficient but that they were open to further negotiations.
The farmers briefly halted their action on Friday but resumed the blockades after talks failed to produce a breakthrough.
Some growers working on small- to medium-sized farms say the taxes will reduce their income significantly and complain that they receive no state help.Some growers working on small- to medium-sized farms say the taxes will reduce their income significantly and complain that they receive no state help.
President Fernandez - who took office in December last year, succeeding her husband, Nestor - has said the taxes are a means to raise badly needed revenue, curb inflation and guarantee domestic supplies.President Fernandez - who took office in December last year, succeeding her husband, Nestor - has said the taxes are a means to raise badly needed revenue, curb inflation and guarantee domestic supplies.
She has refused to negotiate with the strikers until the farmers' strike is stopped.She has refused to negotiate with the strikers until the farmers' strike is stopped.
But later on Monday, President Fernandez is expected to announce a series of measures designed to help smaller producers. This is fast becoming the biggest crisis that she has faced since taking over the presidency, says the BBC's Daniel Schweimler in the capital, Buenos Aires.
As well as causing meat and dairy shortages in the shops, the strike has hit exports and triggered clashes in the capital, Buenos Aires. As well as causing meat and dairy shortages in the shops, the strike has hit exports and triggered clashes in Buenos Aires.
Protesters have stopped lorries carrying farm produce, either turning them back or dumping the goods on the road, while trade at grain and cattle markets has also been disrupted.
Argentina, a leading exporter of beef, corn, soya oil and soybeans, has benefited from the recent global surge in commodity prices.Argentina, a leading exporter of beef, corn, soya oil and soybeans, has benefited from the recent global surge in commodity prices.