Argentine Farmers Reinstate Roadblocks After Talks With Government Stall

Farmers in Argentina reinstated some roadblocks Saturday after talks with the government to end an agricultural strike stalled.

A spokesman for the four striking farm groups said the government offered no details about how it planned to address the farmers concerns during talks on Friday night.

The farmers called the strike on March 13 to protest higher export taxes on soybeans and other grains. The dispute has been blamed for beef and other food shortages nationwide.

Striking farmers have threatened to escalate the roadblocks if the government does not revise the tax hike.

President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has described the strike as “extortion,” but has also offered to negotiate an end to the strike.

Ms. Fernandez said the export taxes are aimed at redistributing wealth to poorer parts of society.

Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.

by VOA News

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