Mercosur

• Wednesday, March 21st 2018 - 07:07 UTC

  Mercosur “blocks” talks on auto exports and government procurement contracts, claims EU

  

  European officials said this week that significant obstacles remain to a long-delayed trade deal between the European Union and Mercosur, even as South American officials expressed optimism a deal would be finalized soon.

• Tuesday, February 27th 2018 - 06:08 UTC

  Uruguayan fraternity: nepotism, nepotism and no job to spare

  

  It has been a long standing consensus-secret in the Uruguayan political system that when you are elected or have been nominated to a political post, you must not forget the family or friends particularly if they are in distress. This means in practical terms that the generous Uruguayan state will incorporate you to the burgeoning bureaucracy be it at national or regional level.

• Wednesday, February 21st 2018 - 07:19 UTC

  Switzerland interested in a trade deal with Mercosur despite its own farmers

  

  Swiss Economic Affairs Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann wants to speed up a free trade agreement between Switzerland and Mercosur, but there is concern in the agricultural sector, according to the country's media.

• Saturday, February 17th 2018 - 09:33 UTC

  European farm lobbies want no further agriculture concessions to Mercosur

  

  European farm lobbies Copa and Cogeca sent a letter to EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker opposing the EU move to give further concessions on agriculture in return for gains in other economic sectors to Mercosur.

• Saturday, February 17th 2018 - 09:29 UTC

  Canada will begin free trade talks with Mercosur in Paraguay on 9 March

  

  The Canadian government plans to open free trade talks with the four-nation Mercosur trading bloc in South America at a time when the future of NAFTA is facing increasing uncertainty. Canada sends around 75% of its goods exports to the United States and is looking for new markets to reduce the reliance on its southern neighbor.

• Saturday, February 17th 2018 - 02:06 UTC

  Falklands' second weekly commercial air link talks take off, and should crystallize by next October

  

  The United Kingdom and Argentina, following on the September 2016 joint communiqué to establish additional air links with the Falkland Islands, jointly announced on Friday that third country airlines interested in such operations will be contacted. It is expected that by the end of February the commercial process will be initiated, led by the Falkland Islands, and sometime next October the new weekly air link, with a monthly call in Argentina, will become operational.

• Friday, February 2nd 2018 - 07:38 UTC

  Irish farmers call on Commissioner Hogan to stop Malmstrom yielding to Mercosur

  

  Irish Farmers National Livestock Chairman Angus Woods has said the break in Mercosur talks until Friday is an opportunity for Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan to face down the Trade Commissioner and force a rethink on the sell-out of beef farmers.

• Thursday, February 1st 2018 - 20:35 UTC

  Majority of Brazilians want Lula in prison and would not support a candidate sponsored by him

  

  Brazil’s presidential election is up for grabs, according to the latest public opinion poll, with popular ex-president Lula da Silva likely to be barred because of his corruption conviction and half of the electorate responding they want to see him in jail.

• Wednesday, January 31st 2018 - 22:51 UTC

  Venezuela will hold pre-sale of the new “petro” cryptocurrenty on February 20

  

  A “pre-sale” of Venezuela’s new ‘petro’ cryptocurrency will begin on February 20, President Nicolas Maduro said on Tuesday, a move that the government hopes will help pull the country out of a dire economic crisis.

• Tuesday, January 30th 2018 - 07:12 UTC

  EU Agriculture and Trade commissioners at odds over increasing Mercosur beef access

  

  A long-awaited major trade deal between the EU and Mercosur may this week take a key step towards realization with ministerial teams from both sides meeting in Brussels on Monday. They are expected to give negotiators a new, decisive political impulse to reach agreement in a matter of weeks, according to Irish sources.