The agricultural producer Gabriel De Raedemaeker criticized the statements of the Minister of Economy Luis “Toto” Caputo about the withholdings.
“Agricultural producers deserve an apology, because even with export rights we continue to generate the dollars that the Government needs“he wrote on his account. “X”.
“Enough of the unfair and unnecessary bullshit!”he claimed in a publication on that social network.
Controversy
“I am an agricultural producer and I can’t stop you from stealing from me via withholdings. They are not a private company, they are the State. How do I get them to stop stealing from me once and for all?” the user “Attila” who identifies himself in ”X” as @Chacareroveloz, asked the minister yesterday.
Luis Caputo sent an agricultural producer to watch polo and the response came: ”It is inappropriate insolence”
“There are many taxes that should not exist, not just withholdings. To try to solve it, some of us came to the public sector. Of course, correcting decades of waste takes a little more than 10 months of management. If in 4 years you are dissatisfied, you can vote for another option. Meanwhile, you have no choice but to continue watching Chapaleufú and running races“Caputo responded to the user whose bio describes him as fan of Chapaleufú, a traditional polo team.
The response provoked the anger of different entities and representatives of the agricultural sector in Córdoba and throughout the country.
Duro comunicado de Cartez
The Confederation of Rural Associations of the Third Zone (Cartez) issued a harsh statement to reject the statements of the head of the Economy portfolio.
“Just a week ago the Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers made worrying statements that we consider unfortunate and we harshly question,” the document begins.
“Yesterday the Minister of Economy insisted on similar terms, and the President of the Nation has endorsed it. We are perplexed“, the document continues.
And later he adds: “Perhaps it would be better for the Government to say what its ways tell us: that it will appropriate a percentage of the income from the countryside because it does not include agricultural producers when it talks about the necessary unrestricted respect for private property.” .
“It is no longer enough with a liberal discourse that proclaims respect for the product of work, the facts expose the unconcealable reality”emphasizes the text.
Withholdings
“The Minister of Economy knows that export duties are not just another tax, he is aware that they are the appropriation of a good part of what more than 250 thousand families produce with their daily work. But it is clear, this does not interest him“he points out in a critical tone.
“A clarification is no longer enough, as we requested last week. Here and now, concrete action is necessary to demonstrate that this Government is not a simple continuation of the previous one: they must immediately and definitively eliminate import duties“, Cartez expressed.
“Any other argument will only be interpreted as more of the same,” the statement concludes.
!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)
{if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?
n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};
if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version=’2.0′;
n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;
t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];
s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,’script’,
‘
window.paywallConfig.facebook_pixel=”1000228364089342″
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Agricultural Expert Gabriel De Raedemaeker
Time.news Editor: Welcome, Gabriel De Raedemaeker, and thank you for joining us today. There’s been quite a stir surrounding the comments made by Minister of Economy Luis Caputo regarding agricultural withholdings. Can you share your thoughts on his recent statements?
Gabriel De Raedemaeker: Thank you for having me. Minister Caputo’s comments are frustrating, to say the least. He seemed dismissive of the real issues facing agricultural producers. When he says the government should feel entitled to take a percentage of our earnings, it completely disregards the contributions we make to the economy. We generate the dollars the government needs, often while shouldering the burden of these high taxes.
Time.news Editor: You tweeted that agricultural producers deserve an apology for the government’s stance. Can you elaborate on that?
Gabriel De Raedemaeker: Absolutely. The statement implies that we, as producers, are somehow failing to support the economy. On the contrary, even with export rights, we are generating valuable foreign currency. The government should recognize our efforts instead of labeling us as mere sources of revenue.
Time.news Editor: There was a particular exchange where Caputo referred to your sector’s challenges as “unfair and unnecessary bullshit.” How did that resonate with you and your peers?
Gabriel De Raedemaeker: That terminology felt aggressive and dismissive. When agricultural producers express their concerns, we need to be met with empathy and understanding, not insults. Everyone in the agricultural sector knows these taxes are counterproductive. They stifle growth and environmental sustainability.
Time.news Editor: Indeed, many in the agricultural community were outraged by Caputo’s remark about watching polo. How do you think this has influenced the perception of the government among farmers?
Gabriel De Raedemaeker: That comment was out of touch. It reflects a disconnect between the government and the realities that farmers face daily. It suggests that lawmakers are not taking our hardships seriously. Such remarks exacerbate existing frustrations and may mobilize more opposition against current policies.
Time.news Editor: The Confederation of Rural Associations of the Third Zone issued a strong condemnation of Caputo’s statements. What kind of impact do you think this collective pushback can have?
Gabriel De Raedemaeker: Collective action is essential. It sends a message that we will not remain silent in the face of perceived injustice. If we unify our voices, we can draw significant attention to our plight and advocate for fairer treatment. The more we push back against these unjust policies, the more the government will have to take notice.
Time.news Editor: Caputo mentioned that if people are dissatisfied in four years, they can vote for another option. Do you think that kind of response is adequate?
Gabriel De Raedemaeker: Not in the least. Agricultural producers need immediate action, not vague promises. It’s easy for politicians to hide behind the electoral process rather than addressing the urgent matters at hand. The health of our sector impacts the entire economy, and we cannot wait for political cycles to bring change.
Time.news Editor: Lastly, what do you propose as a way forward for improving the relationship between the government and agricultural producers?
Gabriel De Raedemaeker: It starts with dialogue. We need open lines of communication with the government, where our concerns are heard and valued. Policies should be developed with input from those who understand the industry best. A partnership approach, rather than one of control, will lead to better outcomes for everyone involved.
Time.news Editor: Thank you, Gabriel, for your insights. It’s clear this issue has deeply affected the agricultural community, and we appreciate you sharing your perspective.
Gabriel De Raedemaeker: Thank you for having me. It’s crucial that we continue this conversation to ensure a sustainable future for all agricultural producers.