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Argentina Ends Mandatory Wine-Sector Levies, Orders PEVI Wind-Down

The move sets up a court fight over control of funding for Argentina’s wine sector.

Overview

  • The Secretariat of Agriculture issued Resolution 55/2026, published Tuesday, declaring the Argentina Wine Strategic Plan 2020 (PEVI) complete and starting a three‑month wind‑down.
  • The order ends the compulsory levies that financed the industry body COVIAR and tells the National Institute of Vitiviniculture (INV) to stop collections and take any remaining funds.
  • COVIAR is not dissolved but loses its main funding source and must file a final report detailing actions, goals met, and the state of resources during the wind‑down.
  • Minister Federico Sturzenegger hailed the rollback and said roughly US$300 million were taken from the sector since 2004, while Bodegas de Argentina supported a shift to voluntary contributions.
  • COVIAR rejected the resolution as improper, said it will weigh administrative or court action, and warned that export promotion, domestic marketing, and small‑grower support could shrink without steady funding.