Bolivia's agribusiness and commerce demand reforms to revive economy after 53‑day blockade

The Association of Oilseed and Wheat Producers (ANAPO) presented a five‑point agenda to help restart Bolivia’s economy after 53 days of blockades that caused roughly $3 billion in agricultural losses and the loss of about 250,000 jobs. The plan calls for fully free exports, reliable diesel supplies of 90‑100 million litres per season (current coverage is only about 60%), expanded biotechnological use such as the newly approved HB4 soy trait, improved export‑oriented infrastructure, and stronger legal certainty for producers. ANAPO argues that agriculture, which generated $1.145 billion in soy exports in 2025, can become the country’s main source of foreign‑exchange.

Meanwhile, the Cámara Nacional de Comercio (CNC) rejected a proposal to extend the July 16 holiday in La Paz, urging instead that work continue to accelerate the flow of goods still stranded after the blockades. The chamber suggested alternative tourism‑boosting measures such as lower tariffs and better road transit, emphasizing the need for structural solutions rather than a one‑day calendar change to support the recovering logistics chain.