Argentina reverses port deregulation amid labor dispute

The Argentine government annulled a recent deregulation of the port sector that had been enacted by President Javier Milei and Economy Minister Federico Sturzenegger. The decree, which allowed captains to operate without a port pilot, sparked a conflict with maritime workers and led to an indefinite strike that halted port activity. On Thursday, President Milei signed a new decree (DNU 716/2026) suspending Decree 690, restoring the previous regulatory framework and ordering the re‑activation of port services.

A working table was also created, involving the Ministry of Security, the Argentine Naval Prefecture, the National Agency of Ports and Navigation and private sector representatives, to design a new regulatory regime. The reversal is seen as a political setback for the administration and highlights tensions over rapid, unconsulted reforms in strategic sectors.