Stories for June 30th 2012
Mercosur doubles list of goods that can have tariffs raised unilaterally 35% by each member
Mercosur rejected an Argentine proposal to raise imports tariffs on all goods from outer zone to protect local industries, but accepted Brazil’s initiative to raise tariffs unilaterally on 200 goods, up from 100 agreed last December.
Relief in EU: German parliament approved Euro rescue fund and fiscal pact
As expected, more than two-thirds of the lawmakers in Germany's parliament moved on Friday to approve the permanent Euro rescue fund, the European Stability Mechanism, and a fiscal pact long championed by Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Brazil farmers rush to cash soy exports on high prices and favourable exchange rate
Brazil could soon run out of soybeans to export this year after farmers’ frontloaded their shipments more than normal to cash in on high international prices and a favourable exchange rate.
Wikileaks Assange “declines to comply” police order and remains at Ecuadorean embassy
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is ignoring a London Metropolitan Police order to surrender himself at a police station, his representative has said. Susan Benn said he was advised to “decline to comply” and will remain inside the Ecuadorian embassy while his application for asylum is processed.
Mercosur agrees info exchange on hydrocarbons naval traffic to the Falklands
Mercosur agreed at the Mendoza summit to exchange information on ships and other “naval artefacts” involved in hydrocarbons activities with routes that include the Falklands/Malvinas Islands over which Argentina claims sovereignty.
Unasur suspends Paraguay; names Peru at the group’s pro-tempore presidency
Unasur, Union of South American nations on Friday suspended Paraguay from the group following the ouster of the country's former president, Fernando Lugo. The decision was adopted at an extraordinary meeting in Mendoza, Argentina where earlier in the day Mercosur members adopted a similar measure.
China prepares the ground for the Yuan to gradually become a reserve currency
China will make part of the booming Shenzhen economic zone, a test ground for freer Yuan usage and capital account convertibility, the National Development and Reform Commission said on Friday.
Repsol donated a million dollars to the campaign of President Kirchner in 2003
The nationalization of YPF, seized from Spain’s Repsol by Argentine president Cristina Fernandez is again a source of controversy following the disclosure by an investigative journalist that the Spanish oil corporation in 2003 helped finance the presidential election of Nestor Kirchner as well as the other candidate in the run-off, Carlos Menem.
Why Enrique Peña Nieto will win the Mexican presidential election
By Gwynne Dyer - There’s no point in talking about who’s going to win the Mexican presidential election on July 1. Enrique Peña Nieto is going to win it. What’s more interesting is why he’s going to win it.
YPF stock trades normally at NYSE after complying with requirements
Argentine seized YPF energy company informed on Friday that its American Depositary Shares (ADS) were listed back in to trade in New York after being de-listed for almost two months for not complying with auditory regulations.
