In the last few hours, the Minister of Economy Luis Caputo intensified his confrontation with the mayor of Pilar, the Peronist Federico Achával, even going so far as to specifically ask people not to shop in supermarkets in this district in the northern suburbs of Buenos Aires.
“Don’t buy anything in Pilar. Don’t support the irresponsible actions of your mayor,” the national official posted on his X account, in an unusual move aimed directly at influencing consumption in a specific location.
The focus of the dispute is the environmental protection tariff. This tax sets a 2% tax rate that will be applied to the large supermarket and hypermarket chains operating in Pilar from December.
According to the Association of United Supermarkets (ASU), there is concern that this surcharge will have a direct impact on consumers’ final receipts. The association has already requested an “urgent” consultation with local authorities to express the “serious damage” the measure will cause, particularly to high-value sales such as household appliances and the critical Christmas and New Year shopping season.
Do not buy anything in Pilar. Do not advocate your mayor’s irresponsible actions.
Very good ASU, that’s what needs to be done: expose them. Let everyone know who is really for and who is against the people and the industry. pic.twitter.com/EbmxzVA9H7– totocaputo (@LuisCaputoAR) December 8, 2025
Caputo strongly supported ASU’s position, saying, “Very good ASU, this is the right thing to do: expose them. Let everyone know who is really for and who is against the people and the industry.”
A few days earlier, Caputo had criticized Mayor Achával’s decision to increase taxes “as if nothing had happened,” even though the national government was working to reduce them. “While we at LLA (La Libertad Avanza) work to reduce taxes and make our industry more competitive, the Kirchner mayors are raising them as if nothing had happened. They will never learn,” he had expressed.
Deputy Minister of Economy José Luis Daza joined the criticism, sharing Caputo’s message and accusing the mayor of Pilar of “exhibiting a frivolity and irresponsibility that borders on indecency.” Daza concluded by saying: “We must reject it, not affirm it, if we want to grow and have a better life for all Argentines.”
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