February 27th, 2026
1. Senate resumes labor reform after changes by House of Representatives
Today, the Senate resumes debate on the labor reform bill sent by the Executive Branch, after the Chamber of Deputies approved the bill with amendments. The session is being held as part of a special session, with attention focused on the possible final approval of the bill. The initiative had been preliminarily approved by the Senate in a first review and was later debated and approved by the lower house with changes, including the elimination of Article 44, which proposed modifications to the medical leave system and raised questions during the debate process. Due to this modification, it is now up to the upper house to ratify the text before its enactment. The labor reform incorporates a series of adjustments to current legislation, including changes in the regulation of severance pay, working hours, and collective bargaining, with the aim, according to the government, of promoting the formalization of employment and increasing competitiveness. The legislative debate is taking place amid protests and demonstrations in the vicinity of Congress and with differing positions among political forces and trade unions. The Senate’s decision will be decisive in determining whether the bill can become law before the opening of the regular sessions scheduled for March 1.
2. Argentina ratified the EU–Mercosur agreement
The Argentine Senate passed into law the ratification of the Association Agreement between the Mercosur and the European Union, concluding a negotiation process that lasted more than two decades. The vote was passed by a large majority and positions Argentina among the first countries in the bloc to complete the internal legislative process. The agreement establishes a comprehensive framework that combines political cooperation and a far-reaching trade chapter. In economic terms, it provides for the progressive reduction of tariffs, the opening of markets for goods and services, and the harmonization of technical and sanitary standards. The objective is to facilitate access to a market of more than 440 million consumers and consolidate Mercosur’s international integration. During the parliamentary debate, the ruling party and the opposition agreed on the historic nature of the agreement, although they raised different nuances regarding its implementation. The government highlighted its potential to expand exports, attract investment, and generate greater predictability. Other sectors emphasized the importance of accompanying the process with tools that strengthen the competitiveness of local industries and SMEs. With the enactment and publication of the law, Argentina completed its internal ratification process. The agreement’s entry into force will now depend on pending procedures in the other States Parties and at the European level, which is a necessary condition for its full or provisional application.
Ámbito: Se ratificó el acuerdo Mercosur-UE, ¿cómo sigue el proceso?
3. Economic activity grew by 4.4% in 2025
The Argentine economy grew by an average of 4.4% in 2025, according to the Monthly Economic Activity Estimator (EMAE) published by the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INDEC). The result marks a recovery from 2024 and consolidates an upward trend toward the end of the year. In December, activity showed a 1.8% increase in seasonally adjusted terms compared to November and a 3.5% year-on-year increase compared to the same month in 2024, contributing to the aggregate performance for the period. Annual growth reflected mixed performance across sectors. Among the sectors with the most positive impact were agriculture, driven by an improvement in agricultural production, financial intermediation, energy, and mining. In contrast, some segments of manufacturing and trade showed more moderate variations in the annual average. From a statistical point of view, the result interrupts the previous contraction and establishes a new basis for comparison for 2026. The evolution of activity in the coming quarters will be linked to the performance of domestic consumption, investment, and the external sector, as well as the stability of the main macroeconomic variables.
Perfil: La actividad económica creció 4,4% en 2025, según el INDEC
4. Milei criticized three business leaders amid the debate on prices and imports
President Javier Milei made statements directed at three industrial entrepreneurs in the context of the public debate on the opening of imports and price developments in the domestic market. Through his account on social network X, the president questioned leaders linked to Techint, Fate, and Neumen, using critical expressions and pointing out that, in his opinion, certain business practices reflect structural distortions in the Argentine economic system. The statements were made in the context of a discussion on competition, cost structure, and measures aimed at trade liberalization. The government maintains that greater openness seeks to promote more competitive prices and improve market efficiency. For their part, representatives of the industrial sector have expressed concerns about the impact of these policies on local production and employment. The exchange is part of a broader agenda linked to the official strategy of deregulation and economic openness, which includes changes to the tariff system and import conditions for certain goods. In this context, the debate between the executive branch and business sectors continues to focus on the scope and effects of these measures on competitiveness and the dynamics of the domestic market.
MDZ: Javier Milei acusó a tres grandes empresarios de “delincuentes” y les puso irónicos apodos
5. The government convened the Cabinet, and Adorni welcomed the G6
President Javier Milei led the first cabinet meeting of the year at the Casa Rosada, with the participation of his ministers. The meeting was aimed at coordinating management priorities and outlining the agenda of initiatives that the government plans to promote during 2026. During the meeting, a review was conducted of the evolution of the main economic variables and the status of projects related to regulatory reforms and measures aimed at competitiveness. The meeting took place during a week of significant parliamentary activity, with the focus on the approval of labor reform. At the same time, presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni received representatives of the so-called G6, a group that brings together business chambers from different productive sectors. The exchange focused on the economic context, job creation, and the scope of the labor reform under debate. The business sector presented considerations related to the macroeconomic scenario and aspects of the regulatory framework that impact private activity, including regulations, costs associated with hiring, and the opening of imports. The meetings took place during the week’s legislative agenda, following the approval of the agreement between the Mercosur and the European Union, and with expectations focused on the parliamentary definition of labor reform.
La Nación: Adorni recibió a los empresarios del G6, con la reforma laboral y la creación de empleo como ejes