Bolivia Blockades Ease After 46 Days, $2.8B Damage

It is too early to call the crisis resolved. On Sunday, angry citizens in downtown La Paz threw tomatoes at union leaders, accusing them of damaging the economy. Morales, who retains a large base of support, criticized those willing to negotiate with the government in a radio broadcast.

The economic damage will persist even after the roads open, said Gary Rodríguez, manager of the Bolivian Institute of Foreign Trade. Nearly two months of blockades disrupted supply flows to La Paz, driving up the cost of basic goods and creating kilometer-long lines at gas stations. Some drivers waited a week to refuel. Businesses have closed or placed workers on forced leave.

"The consequences will be felt in the coming months and until the end of the year, even if the blockades end immediately," Rodríguez said. "There are units that operate on credit, and if production is lost, they are left with that debt."

José Eduardo Iriarte, head of the La Paz Chamber of Industries, said 70% of industries in the department have halted operations. Some producers in rural areas – including members of the groups that organized the protests – have pressured their leaders to return to work after seeing their own economic activity hit by the closures.

"We are hopeful that a complete solution will be found soon, what we are asking for, thinking about the future, is that this cannot happen again," Iriarte said. "We cannot be held hostage."

The 24-hour deadline from Choque's federation creates a near-term catalyst. If talks stall and blockades re-escalate, the $3 billion IMF program – a critical backstop for Paz – could face political headwinds. If the de-escalation holds, the focus shifts to the pace of economic recovery and whether the government can restore confidence after a 5.5% GDP shock.