The Argentine government has begun taking emergency action to restock the nation’s shelves after a 3 week strike left stores empty.

Secretary of Interior Commerce Guillermo Moreno, called for emergency powers to be enacted, but final approval rested with the President of the Argentina Chamber of Commerce, Juan Eiras. In order to secure approval, Moreno made numerous "threatening" phone calls to members of the Chamber of Commerce, promising police action against the farms should Eiras resist. By enacting the emergency powers, known as ley de abastecimiento (supply law), the state claims the power to confiscate personal property without providing compensation.

Immediately following the enactment of the supply law, 50 Federal police accompanied by 5 transport trucks raided livestock corrals and forced the ranchers to surrender the animals for slaughter. Initially the trucks were unable to access the ranches, due to dirt berms placed across the roadway by protesting ranchers.

The previous week government forces had tried to quietly secure livestock for slaughter, but were stymied by numerous road closures due to the ongoing protests.

The only news report of the government action was in the online version of La Nacion. This is largely because ranchers are refusing to talk to media outlets on the record, out of fears of government reprisal.

In an additional move to secure produce for local stores, the government is blocking the export of beef from Argentina. At least four transport ships were forced to unload their cargo and return the product for local consumption.

"We were instructed that we could not load containers with meat, and if they were already loaded they had to be removed," said the director of one shipping company, who requested anonymity.

Export regulations are controlled by Lousteau, who was unaware that cargo ships were being forced to unload their containers. Guillermo Moreno ordered the cargo ships blocked, portending a reemerging power struggle between the two governmental agencies.

A week after the strike was called off, supply lines are still having trouble restocking the store shelves. Shortages of meat and produce are still being reported in neighborhoods throughout greater Buenos Aires.

Related:

Government vs. Campo: Reaping What They Sow (Through The Tube)

Moreno hizo cumplir la ley de abastecimiento (La Nacion)

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