The stocks of books opened the rift between writers

Veronica Abdala

09/01/2020 - 16:14

• Clarín.com

• Culture

This Monday, after the reactivation of a resolution published through the Official Gazette, the Ministry of Productive Development once again stopped book imports with the reactivation of a para-tariff measure that requires an analysis to see if there is lead in the ink .

It is a measure conceived in the times of Guillermo Moreno

and, in fact, it imposes

to the arrival of lots that exceed 500 copies.

Specifically, as of the resolution in force

the import process

, which indirectly, argue those who defend this measure, results in a protectionist measure for the sector.

Although the majority of those consulted consider that it would be

, even if that intention were valid.

First, because the health care argument seems fallacious.

Secondly, because they consider that, even if the true purpose of the regulation is to support the publishing sector, which has been hit hard by the crisis, an isolated and arbitrary measure could end up being counterproductive.

The majority of those consulted agree that this supposed health argument is not convincing.

In favor of stopping all book imports.

- Juan Terranova (@juanterranova) August 31, 2020

And according to the same resolution and

reported on

Monday

 the controls actually aspire to "establishing production standards and improving competitiveness for products manufactured and marketed in the country."

A measure like this, even if that was the purpose, is it enough or does it make sense?

Opinions are very diverse and even

, at this time.

One case: the author

endorsed the measure on his Twitter account.

Another author, Pola Oloixarac, without giving room for nuances, responded with a photo of Adolf Hitler, indirectly accusing him of being a fascist, it is understood.

There were expressions of support and condemnation for both sides.

In cases such as illustrated and children's books, those in the know say, the measure also hinders production because there is no technology in the country to match the quality and prices of other places.

In fact, many publishers resisted the importation "but when it opened, they sent to print to China," said a prominent importer,

, from the Waldhuter distributor.

https://t.co/010TkuBFNw pic.twitter.com/rPqy6W9Rnt

- pola oloixarac 💚🐰 (@poliamida) August 31, 2020

Consulted by

in the hours after the measure was released, authors and editors spoke in favor and against the measure, and also expressed their opinions on their social networks.

Here, some of the reflections, in relation to this topic:      

Claudia Pineiro

I regret that this limitation has been established again.

Because ultimately it will make some texts unreadable.

because leaded ink has not existed in the world for more than ten years.

If it is a measure of encouragement to the local graphic industry, the mechanisms to do it should be different.

It is as if Argentine writers ask for a rule that restricts the reading of foreign authors because we are going through a tremendous economic situation due to the pandemic, as happens to all links in the industry, to all industries, to all Argentines.

It is as if Argentine writers ask for a rule that restricts the reading of foreign authors because we are going through a tremendous economic situation "

Claudia PiñeiroWriter

I think the problem is that

and therefore rules are applied that can work in other fields, incurring heavy “costs” of another type that are not measured in the same way.

On the other hand, the impact of this measure on the outflow of dollars does not seem significant.

Guillermo Martinez

I am

these restrictions, mostly based on a false argument (the ridiculous lead question).

Yes, I am

of privileging the national industry, something that can be achieved in a thousand other smarter ways than preventing access to books that come from abroad.

Guillermo Martinez.

In favor of protecting the national industry but without resorting to false arguments.

Juan Terranova

It is not about impeding imports.

, the great Argentine structural economic problem.

Buenos Aires progressivism identifies the book with the novelties of Anagrama and those books of impossible prices with an illustration that it wants and that it lacks.

It is not about impeding imports.

It is about not leaking more dollars "

Juan Terranova Writer

I have not bought books with prices in euros for years.

With the Internet, the discussion becomes even more anachronistic.

Pola Oloixarac

It is not uncommon for a government without imagination to penalize the imagination.

The thing about the ink is an old verse, everyone knows it's a lie, leaded inks are no longer used.

They do not try to deceive because

.

If someone tells you that the measure seems good to them, it is because it is a bot controlled by the State.

Yes, the resolution says that the ink with which imported books are printed can have lead and contaminate the health of the reader.

Is it fuck?

no.

In the Riachuelo country, they are concerned about lead in ink (which has not existed for years).

The real reason?

More Tariffs

- Lalo Zanoni (@zanoni) September 1, 2020

You couldn't buy books abroad because they are very expensive and because customs makes your life impossible and now they can't be imported either.

It is a form of torture for any reader.

It is especially cruel because it only affects those who love to read and want the world, it is like hitting someone under the table while the rest go on like nothing.

It only serves to make books more expensive, harm publishers and readers and favor cultural deforestation.

Enzo Maqueira 

All measures taken to protect the national industry (not just the book industry) are welcome.

And all

Therefore, before restricting book imports it is necessary

design a comprehensive plan to promote our publishing industry that takes into account each of its participants, starting with male and female authors.

Maqueira.

For the design of a comprehensive plan to promote the publishing industry, hit by the crisis.

Photo Juan Manuel Foglia

The creation of a National Book Institute, which these days promotes the Union of Writers and Writers together with other groups, would be a much more efficient and complete response to a situation that needs concrete, complete and consensual actions.    

Victor Malumián

I did not see the fine print, but I know that this measure applies to runs of more than 500 copies, that is, 499 copies enter without difficulty or with the above conditions.

Hello, in practice I do not think it affects the books of the publishers or the usual channels, it seems to me that the measure points to those that are for children or coloring without a certificate, I do not see it alarming https://t.co/BRuU6CpzLL

- Right enZapatos (@dzaleres) August 31, 2020

In general, I prefer measures that favor behaviors rather than those that restrict them.

I think that we must take into account how the measure affects a sector such as children's books, which due to their characteristics in many cases are printed abroad.

And I think it is good that

is regulated

and that there are measures to protect the national industry, but I think we have to think about it in another way, and not with prohibitions.   

 PK