President Javier Milei's import remarks trigger industry backlash in Argentina

President Javier Milei suggested that if Argentina relied only on domestic production it would “only eat dulce de leche,” a comment that provoked sharp criticism from Argentine industry leaders. Union leader José Ignacio de Mendiguren of the Argentine Industrial Union dismissed the statement, pointing to the need for re‑industrialisation and noting that countries such as the United States impose tariffs on Chinese cars while Europe and the US are pursuing industrial revival strategies.

Mileg Mendiguren also highlighted recent trade disputes, including European limits on Argentine beef, and argued that Milei’s free‑market rhetoric does not reflect the realities of Argentine manufacturing. The debate comes as several factories in the Santa Fe province, such as Pauny, Metalfor and Crucianelli, have closed, leaving about a hundred workers jobless and raising concerns about credit availability and competitiveness in the sector.

Analysts and politicians warned that the president’s stance could deepen a recession in the auto‑parts and agricultural‑machinery sectors, curtail investment and increase unemployment ahead of the 2027 election cycle.