Argentina Port Strike Ends As Pilots Accept 20% Rate Cut

Argentina's port strike ended Tuesday after the government and maritime pilots reached an agreement, with pilots cutting rates by 20% and resuming navigation assistance, freeing over 150 stranded ships. In exchange, the government suspended a decree deregulating pilotage, and both sides will form a joint working group. The strike, launched Saturday, protested the decree signed by President Javier Milei and drafted by Deregulation Minister Federico Sturzenegger, which allowed vessels to operate without pilots if captains showed familiarity with waterways.

The Naval Prefecture had ordered pilots back to work, warning of prison sentences for noncompliance. The government said the reform aimed to cut logistics costs and boost trade competitiveness, while Sturzenegger argued it would increase competition and reduce prices. The pilots' union had called the service mandatory, but the agreement resolved the dispute.