BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Farmers seething at export taxes on their crops resumed their blockades of rural highways Saturday after talks failed to end a 17-day strike that has halted grain exports and emptied supermarket shelves of meat.
Eduardo Buzzi, a leader of one of four striking farm groups, said a failure to reach a breakthrough in talks that ended early Saturday has jeopardized their attendance at a second round called by the government for Monday.
“We went to negotiate, and it turned out that the dialogue consisted of talking in vague generalities,” Buzzi told Argentine Radio 10. “As such, we doubt there will be a meeting on Monday.”
On Saturday, farmworkers restored highway blockades across several rural provinces, including Entre Rios, Cordoba, Santa Fe and Chaco. The move came a day after they called a “truce” in the strike and temporarily lifted barricades to allow bargaining to begin on disputed tax hikes.
