Argentina Milei trade liberalisation

In early July 2026, President Javier Milei defended his administration’s push for broader import liberalisation, arguing that a closed Argentine economy would be reduced to consuming only a few domestic products such as dulce de leche. He cited record import growth across most sectors and warned that restricting imports would exacerbate industrial decline, bankruptcies and firm closures.

Later in July, Governor Gustavo Sáenz of Salta criticised a specific deregulation effort that removed a long‑standing ban on banana imports from disease‑affected regions. Sáenz warned that the change could devastate local banana plantations with fungal pathogens, calling the decision a disrespect to provincial realities. The federal government framed the measure as part of Milei’s wider overhaul of outdated regulations.

Together, the snapshots show Milei’s aggressive trade‑openness agenda encountering pushback from regional officials concerned about agricultural bio‑security and economic impacts.