Argentine Transport Minister Mario Meoni dies in road accident

[peppertree]

2. Amazing context. Thank you, Judi.

Personally, I think he should nationalize the waterway - rather than keep it under private management (even with a new, more economical contract).

A new concession bid would almost certainly be won by China's SDC, which could strain relations with the U.S. (it shouldn't - but neocons still hold great sway in the State Dept, sadly).

Nor would a new contract solve the real problem with the privatized waterway: agricultural contraband (for tax evasion), mainly by way of re-exports through Paraguay and Uruguay.

This was among the reasons often cited to nationalize soy processing giant Vicentín (bankrupted by Macri's friend Alberto Padoán, you'll recall) - that it was using a Paraguayan subsidiary to re-export up to $200 million a year sub rosa in grains and oilseed, and that the privately-managed waterway made this possible.

Would renationalizing the waterway (or Vicentín) solve those problems? That, too, is far from certain - and it's politically risky (with a capital R).

Thanks again, Judi. And Godspeed to Mr. Meoni; he was not only a good and talented man but very likable as well - an uncommon combination, as you know.