Argentina allows live cattle exports as Milei scraps 1973 policy

Argentina, one of the world’s top beef exporters, will now be able to send its cattle abroad for slaughter as President Javier Milei pushes to deregulate the economy.

Milei, in an executive order on Wednesday, struck down a policy dating to 1973 that prohibits Argentina from shipping its cows to abattoirs overseas. He cited his own libertarian rulebook designed to pull Argentina out of years of protectionism and promote free markets.

The measure, which will be implemented from Thursday, could roil Argentina’s meatpackers, where local names like Grupo Coto and Grupo Beltran compete with Brazilian companies Marfrig Global Foods SA and Minerva SA.

Agriculture powerhouse Argentina has a cattle herd of about 53 million, easily topping its human population, and is the world’s fifth-biggest beef exporter, according to the US Department of Agriculture.