Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 07EFTOBUENOSAIRES1049, NEW AGREEMENT PUTS BEEF BACK IN MARKETS - FOR NOW

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07EFTOBUENOSAIRES1049.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07EFTOBUENOSAIRES1049 2007-05-24 22:31 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Buenos Aires
VZCZCXYZ0018
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1049/01 1442231
ZNY EEEEE ZZH (CCY ADC3F53C MSI1110-695)
R 242231Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8262
INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE USD FAS WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 6195
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 6472
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 0438
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 6062
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ MAY SAO PAULO 3300
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 2238
UNCLAS E F T O BUENOS AIRES 001049 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE NOFORN SIPDIS 
 
C O R R E C T E D COPY CLASSIFICATION 
 
PASS NSC FOR JOSE CARDENAS 
PASS USTR FOR SUE CRONIN AND MARY SULLIVAN 
USDOC FOR 4322/ITA/MAC/OLAC/PEACHER 
US SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD EAGR AR
SUBJECT: NEW AGREEMENT PUTS BEEF BACK IN MARKETS - FOR NOW 
 
Ref:  2006 Buenos Aires 560 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1. (SBU/NF) To counter increasing shortages of beef products in 
Argentina, Economy Minister Felisa Miceli and Argentine beef 
producers agreed May 9 to raise wholesale beef prices by 
approximately 12% on average.  The agreement affects prices for 
cattle sold at the main beef wholesale market in Argentina, and is 
valid until the end of 2007.  Meat packers and butchers also agreed 
to freeze the prices of a number of widely consumed beef cuts for a 
year.  The GoA also committed to allow at least 500,000 tons of beef 
exports for 2007, an increase of 25%, and to provide about USD 71 
million for production subsidies.  The goal of the GoA may simply 
have been to get beyond the October elections with as little 
disruption in consumer markets as possible, as the agreement clearly 
addresses the symptoms - rather than the domestic inflation and 
heavy-handed GoA regulation that is the cause of the problem.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
PRICES, EXPORTS, AND SUBSIDIES 
------------------------------ 
 
2. (SBU/NF) The GoA has used price controls, export tariffs and 
restraints, subsidies, and has been accused of manipulating 
statistics in its effort to keep headline consumer inflation below 
10% in advance of October 2007 elections.  Argentines consume more 
beef per capita than any country in the world at 63 kilograms (139 
pounds) per year and beef makes up a significant 4.5% of the CPI 
basket.  Therefore, the sector has been a prominent target of the 
GoA's price control policy. 
 
3. (SBU/NF) Previous GoA efforts to constrain wholesale beef prices, 
including the publication of "reference" wholesale prices, export 
tariffs, bans and limits have indeed helped hold headline inflation 
down.  But with costs not similarly constrained, producers have 
predictably limited sales at government-approved prices.  This has 
led to periodic shortages at supermarkets which have attracted 
considerable media attention. 
 
4. (SBU/NF) Following two months of negotiations, an agreement 
between the GoA and most cattle ranching associations was reached on 
May 9.  The agreement raised wholesale prices from 5% to 20% on most 
cuts of beef at the Liniers Cattle Market (the primary location for 
cattle sales in Argentina), and by about 12% on average, until the 
end of 2007.  Packing and butchers associations also participated in 
the negotiations, and agreed to maintain prices on the most popular 
cuts.  Post contacts indicate that the prices in the agreement are 
closer to current unofficial market prices than to previous GoA 
"reference" prices. 
 
5. (SBU/NF) The agreement also called for an increase in exports. 
The GoA has capped exports since March 2006 (at that time, exports 
were temporarily banned - Reftel - though the restrictions were 
later relaxed), and the previous limit was 400,000 tons of beef per 
year.  The new agreement raises the limit to 500,000 tons - a 25% 
increase - by the end of 2007.  (Note: export taxes, another tool 
the GoA has utilized since 2002 in efforts to keep domestic prices 
down, were not addressed in the agreement.  End Note.) 
 
6. (SBU/NF) Another important aspect of the agreement is a 
commitment by the GoA to provide subsidies of approximately USD 71 
million to increase cattle productivity, especially breeding 
operations, and also to negotiate loan subsidies aimed at increasing 
herd size.  However, post contacts note that, if those funds were 
solely allocated to improving pastureland, that amount would be 
sufficient to increase herd size on a national level by only about 
710,000 head of cattle - no more than 1.4% of the estimated 50 to 60 
million head in Argentina. 
 
LONG TERM QUESTIONS REMAIN 
-------------------------- 
 
7. (SBU/NF) These GoA measures will likely result in increased 
supply in the short term.  In fact, the volume of cattle sold at the 
Liniers market has already returned to early 2007 levels.  However, 
repeated GoA interventions in the beef market have significantly 
altered the dynamics of cattle production in Argentina.  According 
to press reports, beef export volume in the first four months of 
2007 was 40  lower than the same period in 2006 (which was already 
18  lower than the first four months of 2005).  In the last eighteen 
months the number of cattle slaughtered has dropped by a million 
animals per year, about 7-8%.  During this same period, sales of 
seeds to improve pasture grazing land have fallen 40%; the price of 
breeding heifers has fallen 20%, and approximately one million 
hectares of land have been switched from livestock to agricultural 
production.  The reasons for these changes are twofold:  price 
controls and related GoA measures have reduced profitability, making 
alternative land uses more appealing; and the beef market has been 
subject to a higher degree of GoA intervention than have other 
agricultural markets,  creating levels of uncertainty that have 
impacted producers willingness to invest in building herds. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
8. (SBU/NF) While beef is now back on the table of the typical 
Argentine, the effects of the GoA accord seem transitory at best. 
The latest negotiations occurred not long after the GoA last set 
"reference" prices, and with headline inflation running around 10%, 
rising costs ensure that the beef producers will be asking for new 
negotiations before long.  Beef is the largest component in the CPI 
and emblematic of Argentina's image both domestically and 
internationally.  The goal of the GoA may simply have been to get 
beyond the October elections with as little disruption in consumer 
markets as possible, as the agreement clearly addresses the symptoms 
- rather than the domestic inflation and heavy-handed GoA regulation 
that are the cause of the problem.  The fact that not all cattle 
ranchers were represented in the negotiations is potentially 
significant, and at least one group that did not participate 
announced that it would continue to defy (or disregard) the GoA 
price regime.  End Comment. 
 
9. (U) To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified 
website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires.< /a> 
 
WAYNE