Milei clashes with Argentina’s protectionist outpost at end of the world

Javier Milei’s free-market reforms are challenging Argentina’s protectionist policies in Tierra del Fuego, a province benefiting from trade barriers that support local industry. As Milei reduces import tariffs, particularly a 16% cut on mobile phones, concerns arise about potential job losses in the province, which relies heavily on manufacturing for its economy. While Milei envisions an economy focused on mining, energy, and technology, local leaders argue that such changes may devastate the region’s industrial base and threaten its strategic claims in the South Atlantic.