The Rural Society defended the reduction in withholding taxes: "The countryside is what feeds you, we must reactivate it."

The vice president of the Argentine Rural Society (SRA), Marcos Pereda , described the measures announced by President Javier Milei during the Palermo Rural Exposition as "a pleasant surprise," particularly the permanent reduction of soybean and corn taxes . He emphasized that this is a "key message" for the upcoming agricultural campaign and a very positive sign for the entire sector.

"It was a pleasant surprise, very good news. It's a 20% drop, a seven-point drop in soybeans and corn, and that directly impacts the gross domestic product . Furthermore, the drop is not temporary: that's what we celebrate most," the leader stated in an interview with Radio Rivadavia. He also considered that the total elimination of withholdings remains a goal for the agricultural sector and expressed confidence that the government will make progress in that direction. "Yes, we believe it will be able to do so over time. Obviously, they depend on macroeconomic conditions, but we are on the right track," he maintained.

Asked about the strong support Milei received during the official opening of the Rural, Pereda emphasized that he hadn't seen a similar scene in years: "It was a very nice moment. The president felt comfortable. It's been years since we've seen a head of state so well received here . We haven't seen anything like this since Menem or Macri. There's a special energy between Milei and the countryside," he acknowledged.

Despite this, Pereda explained the historical difficulties in eliminating withholding taxes, despite the sector's assertions that their elimination would improve revenue collection in the medium term. " The current system is perverse . Withholding taxes are collected in advance on sales, not on profits. They represent between 1.5 and 2 percentage points of GDP. Without external credit, they are a key source of income for the government, but in the long run they slow down production."

Furthermore, the vice president of the Rural Society responded to Kirchnerism's criticism, in which he accused the government of benefiting the wealthiest sectors: "The countryside is what feeds you. These aren't benefits for the countryside; they're measures to reactivate the economy. If you're forced out of your job because of these taxes, you create poverty. This decision seeks to generate wealth so that it can later reach everyone."

Regarding questions about the immediate impact of the measures, given that the coarse grain harvest has already concluded, Pereda acknowledged that the effects may not be felt immediately, but emphasized the symbolic value of the decision. "Yes, it's true that more than usual has already been sold due to the previous seasonal decline, so it may not be as noticeable now. But this message that withholdings are dropping forever is fundamental. It generates confidence and changes producer sentiment."