Argentina's Fixed Book‑Price Law Faces Broad Industry Opposition

The Argentine government, through the Ministry of Deregulation headed by Federico Sturzenegger, is preparing a draft to repeal Law 25.542, which has fixed the retail price of books since 2001. Officials argue that removing the price‑control would allow discounts and promotions, making books more affordable for readers.

Booksellers, editors, authors and cultural organisations uniformly condemn the proposal. The Foundation El Libro described the law as “the backbone that guarantees bibliographic diversity and equitable competition,” and declared a “state of alert,” urging the public to defend independent bookstores. Librarians such as Beatriz Rojas and Rubén Bisceglia warned that deregulation would enable large chains and online platforms to undercut small shops, leading to market concentration, closure of hundreds of independent stores and loss of cultural diversity. They cited the British experience after ending fixed pricing, where many local shops disappeared and prices eventually rose.

University and academic networks, including the National University of La Plata and the Red de Editoriales de Universidades Nacionales, also stressed that the law protects a cultural good, not merely a commercial commodity, and helps maintain a nationwide uniform price exempt from VAT. The sector calls for mobilization to preserve the law that has supported over 1,500 Argentine bookshops for two decades.