Argentina faces challenges as 51 anti-dumping measures are set to expire over the next two years, with 23 of them expiring by 2026. This situation has created anxiety within the manufacturing sector, especially with the recent refusal by the government to extend an anti-dumping request concerning Chinese aluminum made by Javier Madanes Quintanilla, the owner of a significant local company. His case underlines the broader fear among Argentine producers that the influx of cheaper Chinese imports could severely disrupt local industries and lead to increased closures.

The government’s decision to allow these tariffs to lapse comes amidst a backdrop of a fragile financial recovery, driven by high interest rates on the peso and low prices for the dollar, which have temporarily calmed the currency markets. However, this same environment has heightened fears about a potential surge in Chinese imports, threatening to undermine domestic manufacturers who rely on protective measures against foreign competitors engaging in dumping practices—selling products below market value to gain competitive advantage.

Countries like the United States, Mexico, and those in the European Union routinely investigate and impose tariffs to shield their domestic industries from such practices. The expiration of these tariff barriers in Argentina could lead to a flood of cheaper imports, raising costs for local manufacturers and forcing many to reassess their business models to survive in an increasingly competitive market dominated by foreign goods.