Argentina passes major labor reform and signs trade deal with the United States

Argentina's Congress approved a significant labor reform backed by President Javier Milei. The reform, which passed the Senate with broad support, marks a major shift in labor rights and includes measures like cheaper layoffs and extended workdays.

Major labor unions responded by holding a general strike that paralyzed parts of the country in protest. At the same time, Argentina and the United States signed a major trade agreement that eliminates key tariffs and quintuples the quota for Argentine beef imports.

The head of Argentina's statistics agency, INDEC, resigned amid controversy over a postponed new method for measuring inflation. The government also reported a loss of 180,000 registered private sector jobs since Milei took office.