Overview

• The Buenos Aires event, organized by Grupo Techint on August 21, gathered business leaders, economists and political figures to debate industrialization, trade and tariffs.
• Former U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer labeled China an existential threat, invoked a new Cold War and asked that Argentina side with the United States.
• Lighthizer defended U.S. tariffs and outlined a strategic decoupling plan focused on balanced trade, restricting technology transfer and rebuilding allied supply chains.
• Rocca cautioned that Chinese imports—reported up nearly 80% year over year—are disrupting local value chains, while he called tariffs rudimentary tools with collateral damage.
• Speakers offered contrasting prescriptions, with Dani Rodrik arguing lost factory jobs are largely irreversible and that middle-class renewal will depend more on services.