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Farmers resume strike against export tax

  • Story Highlights
  • Farm groups launch third strike since government imposed export tax in March
  • Government stands behind 44 percent tax on agricultural products
  • Argentina is the world's second-largest corn exporter, third-largest soybean exporter
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From Carolina Cayazzo
CNN
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BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (CNN) -- Argentine farm groups went on strike Wednesday for the third time in nearly three months to protest high export taxes.

The farm groups said they would suspend grain and beef sales until Monday to protest a 44 percent export tax on agricultural products such as soy and sunflower seeds.

Argentina is the world's second-largest corn exporter and third-largest soybean exporter.

The farm groups said they would go to Congress, the Catholic Church and the Supreme Court to resolve the crisis, which has presented a formidable challenge to President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner's government since the tax was imposed March 11.

Fernandez says the tax is justified and has accused the striking farmers of extortion.

The farmers went on strike for two weeks in March, halting grain exports, blocking roads and emptying supermarket shelves.

The farmers lifted the blockades and began negotiations with the government, only to resume striking a few weeks later.

Earlier this month, negotiations resumed without success.

On Monday the government called off negotiations after a protest Sunday against agricultural policies in the eastern city of Rosario, the Argentine Agrarian Federation said.

The protest drew hundreds of thousands of people, the group said.

"The solution is in [the government's] hands, and it is what all Argentines are asking for," the statement said.

All About ArgentinaCristina Fernandez de Kirchner

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