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Argentine farmers suspend protest | Argentine farmers suspend protest |
(5 days later) | |
Farmers in Argentina say they have suspended a three-week strike over export tax increases on soya and other agricultural produce. | Farmers in Argentina say they have suspended a three-week strike over export tax increases on soya and other agricultural produce. |
The strike, which included road blocks in some areas, had halted agricultural exports and led to shortages of meat, milk and vegetables across the country. | The strike, which included road blocks in some areas, had halted agricultural exports and led to shortages of meat, milk and vegetables across the country. |
The farmers say their truce will last for 30 days to see whether progress can be made with the government. | The farmers say their truce will last for 30 days to see whether progress can be made with the government. |
President Cristina Fernandez says the taxes are needed to control inflation. | |
The announcement comes a day after the president told 20,000 supporters, including trade unionists and human rights activists, that the last time farmers had imposed food shortages on Argentina was in February 1976. | The announcement comes a day after the president told 20,000 supporters, including trade unionists and human rights activists, that the last time farmers had imposed food shortages on Argentina was in February 1976. |
That was a month before a military coup which she called "our nation's worst tragedy". | That was a month before a military coup which she called "our nation's worst tragedy". |
'Not consulted' | 'Not consulted' |
A presidential decree on 11 March raised export taxes on soybeans from 35% to 45%, as well as raising tax on exports of corn, wheat and beef. | A presidential decree on 11 March raised export taxes on soybeans from 35% to 45%, as well as raising tax on exports of corn, wheat and beef. |
The fight doesn't end here. Today we are simply taking a break to talk Juan Echeverria, strike leader | The fight doesn't end here. Today we are simply taking a break to talk Juan Echeverria, strike leader |
President Fernandez has said the higher export taxes will help curb fast-rising domestic food prices. | |
But farmers say they were not consulted on the rises and that they do not allow rural producers to make a profit. | But farmers say they were not consulted on the rises and that they do not allow rural producers to make a profit. |
Strike leaders warned that they had not dropped their central demand that the rises be rescinded. | Strike leaders warned that they had not dropped their central demand that the rises be rescinded. |
"The fight doesn't end here. Today we are simply taking a break to talk," one strike leader, Juan Echeverria, told the Reuters news agency. | "The fight doesn't end here. Today we are simply taking a break to talk," one strike leader, Juan Echeverria, told the Reuters news agency. |
Argentina is one of the world's top exporters of soya, wheat and beef, and any prolonged conflict would have a major effect on vital export earnings, says the BBC's Daniel Schweimler in Buenos Aires. | Argentina is one of the world's top exporters of soya, wheat and beef, and any prolonged conflict would have a major effect on vital export earnings, says the BBC's Daniel Schweimler in Buenos Aires. |
The farmers' strike is the biggest crisis faced by Ms Fernandez since she took office more than three months ago, succeeding her husband Nestor Kirchner, our correspondent adds. | The farmers' strike is the biggest crisis faced by Ms Fernandez since she took office more than three months ago, succeeding her husband Nestor Kirchner, our correspondent adds. |
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