Buenos Aires, February 4, 2026 – Total News Agency-TNA – The debate over the price of clothing in Argentina has once again taken center stage in economic and political discussions, following Economy Minister Luis Caputo's public praise for a textile businessman for acknowledging that domestically produced clothing was 'expensive.' This aligns with the minister's own previous statements, as he had days before claimed that he does not buy clothing in the local market due to its high values.
The controversy reignited after a message posted by Caputo on his official X account, where he highlighted the private sector's sincerity on a historically sensitive topic. 'It's true, of course, we were expensive,' stated Fernández, explaining the strategic shift by some firms in the sector.
The businessman's remarks were interpreted by the Government as a validation of the diagnosis that President Javier Milei's administration has been asserting regarding price distortions in the Argentine economy, particularly in sectors protected for decades by high tariffs, import restrictions, and regulations that stifled competition.
Caputo had already sparked controversy days earlier by publicly stating that he does not buy clothes in Argentina due to the elevated prices compared to other countries. In this context, the apparel sector appears to be one where the government expects a significant downward adjustment, driven by greater commercial openness and external competitive pressure.
In parallel, sector analysts note that while some prices began to moderate in real terms from late 2025, clothing remains one of the most expensive goods in Argentina on a regional basis, especially compared to countries like Chile, Brazil, and Uruguay.
In this sense, a textile businessman's admission that clothing 'was expensive' was read at the Presidential office (Casa Rosada) as a significant political and economic gesture, potentially heralding a broader realignment within the sector.
The clash, far from closing, promises to continue fueling the debate over the productive model, the role of state protectionism, and the impact of internal prices on consumers' daily lives, as the government seeks to consolidate its economic stabilization and deregulation program.
'Excellent that some are now daring to do so publicly,' the minister wrote, directly referencing a television interview aired on Tuesday night.
The statements that prompted the official reaction were made by textile businessman Marcelo Fernández, who admitted in an interview that clothing prices had reached excessive levels in recent years. While some industry representatives continued to defend local prices as a result of an adverse cost structure, others began to admit that the lack of competition and prolonged protection had led to final values well above international standards.
From the official economic circle, it is emphasized that price sincerity is a necessary condition to achieve a sustained reduction in inflation and a recovery of purchasing power.
'We could only increase by 11% since 2023 until now because we made a mea culpa from the entire national business sector that we were expensive.' That phrase caused strong discomfort in textile chambers and sector unions, who accused the minister of devaluing national production and ignoring internal costs, including taxes, labor burdens, and logistics.
However, Fernández's explicit acknowledgment created a rift within the textile business community itself. This gap is explained by both macroeconomic factors and historical commercial practices that are only now beginning to be publicly questioned.
Caputo's stance aims to install a cultural change in the relationship between the State and the business community, promoting what the ruling coalition defines as 'price sincerity' and real competition.
'In private, all textile entrepreneurs recognize this.'
