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Argentina's Textile Crisis: 18,000 Jobs Lost Amid Import Surge

3/17/2026

33 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The Argentine textile sector has lost more than 18,000 jobs since December 2023.
Factories operate at about one-third capacity.
President Javier Milei cut tariffs and liberalized e-commerce, triggering a 97% surge in clothing imports.
Imports are led by China and now account for about 70% of the market.
Argentine workers migrate to Brazil for higher grape-harvest wages amid Argentina's collapse and Brazil's labor shortages.

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Story summary

The Argentine textile sector has lost more than 18,000 jobs since December 2023.
Factories operate at about one-third capacity.
President Javier Milei cut tariffs and liberalized e-commerce, triggering a 97% surge in clothing imports.
Imports are led by China and now account for about 70% of the market.
Argentine workers migrate to Brazil for higher grape-harvest wages amid Argentina's collapse and Brazil's labor shortages.