The China Zorrilla, the world’s largest 100% electric ferry, was launched on May 2, 2025, at Incat’s shipyard in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Commissioned by Buquebus, the 130-meter vessel will connect Argentina and Uruguay across the River Plate, carrying up to 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles. The vessel is due in Uruguay in the last quarter of 2025. It was the ninth unit Incat has built for Buquebus.
Foreign Ministers of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur)—namely Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay—gathered Friday in Buenos Aires at the San Martín Palace to advance regional integration amid global trade changes. They focused on eliminating intra-zone trade barriers, strengthening regional value chains, harmonizing regulations, and enhancing physical and digital integration.
As the world marks International Workers' Day on May 1st, Latin America reflects not only on the hard-won labor rights of the past but also on the urgent challenges of the digital age. Born from the 1886 Chicago protests demanding an eight-hour workday, the holiday honors the legacy of the “Haymarket Martyrs” and remains a symbol of the global struggle for fair labor conditions.
Southern Common Market (Mercosur) foreign ministers meeting in Buenos Aires on Friday agreed to temporarily expand the National List of Exceptions to the Common External Tariff by up to 50 codes per member state in response to global trade tensions, following US President Donald Trump's barrage of import surcharges.
Presidents Javier Milei of Argentina and Santiago Peña of Paraguay met Wednesday in Asunción to stress their shared commitment to economic freedom and deregulation as a path to prosperity. Their encounter took place at the same time most other heads of State convened in Tegucigalpa (Honduras) for the Celac Summit.
Mercosur is expecting one of the best rice harvests of the last decade, and particularly in Uruguay (exporter of prime quality rice), yields of harvested fields are indicating possible new records. However Uruguay rice farmers are facing trade, price and logistics hurdles, according to farmer Karol Pinczak.
Argentina’s beef exports totaled 96,805 metric tons in the first two months of 2025, down 26.1% from the same period in 2024, according to a report from the Rosario Board of Trade BCR. This has meant that in terms of revenue, exports fell 3.8% year-over-year to US$474.5 million for January and February combined.
Presidents Yamandú Orsi of Uruguay and José Raúl Mulino of Panama met Monday at the Palacio de las Garzas to discuss the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) and other bilateral issues. The newly-inaugurated Broad Front leader's trip reciprocated Mulino’s prior visits to Uruguay, which facilitated Panama’s entry as an Associated State of Mercosur in December 2024. The meeting also took place as part of the celebrations marking 120 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and First Lady Janja were welcomed by Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako on Tuesday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, marking the start of the South American leader's state visit to celebrate 130 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Brazil arguably hosts the largest Japanese-descendant population outside Japan with around 2 million people, while Japan is home to the fifth largest Brazilian community abroad, with around 200,000 people.
Uruguayan Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin had on Wednesday his first formal day in office on Wednesday. During a ceremony in Montevideo attended by President Yamandú Orsi and Vice President Carolina Cosse, the South American country's top diplomat emphasized Uruguay's role as an “actor of peace” to help reduce global tensions.