Overview
- Speaking at Abeceb’s annual conference in Argentina, country president Juan Martín de la Serna called for equal rules for Chinese marketplaces across finance and commerce.
- He said a flood of low-priced imports threatens SMEs that account for roughly 90% of Mercado Libre’s sales volume and could jeopardize regional employment.
- Temu’s rapid expansion adds pressure, with Latin America monthly active users up 143% to about 105 million in the first half of 2025, according to Sensor Tower.
- Authorities in Mexico, Chile and Uruguay have responded this year by tightening fiscal and import rules on low-cost goods from China to protect local retailers.
- Mercado Libre says it has accelerated logistics investment, including a US$65 million center near Buenos Aires, though Argentina’s volatility complicates growth and the firm contrasts Amazon’s impact with what it calls lower-quality Asian offerings.