Mercosur

• Tuesday, December 5th 2023 - 10:55 UTC

  Lula in Germany with Scholz trying to conclude Mercosur/EU trade deal before next Tuesday

  

  The two leaders of the largest economies of Latin America and Europe met in Berlin on Monday to try and conclude a cooperation and free trade agreement between the South American block and the European Union which has been on the table for over two decades.

• Monday, December 4th 2023 - 10:50 UTC

  EU-Mercosur deal slowly vanishing

  

  The European Union's Commissioner who was due to attend the Dec. 7 Mercosur Summit in Rio de Janeiro to sign the trade agreement between both blocs has canceled his trip, it was reported Sunday. According to the Financial Times, Valdis Dombrovskis shall not be attending the event, which in addition to announcements in Buenos Aires and Brasilia coupled with further negative statements from French President Emmanuel Macron, would amount to the end. at least for now, of the much-heralded agreement.

• Saturday, December 2nd 2023 - 11:55 UTC

  Brazil wants to hand Mercosur chair next week with a raft of milestones

  

  Brazil who is handing the Mercosur rotating chair to Paraguay during a ceremony and regional summit in Rio do Janeiro next 7 December´, is working overtime to finalize important milestones for the trade block during its presidency, among which discussions with UAE, closing a deal with Singapore, making official Bolivia's incorporation and equally outstanding even possibly signing the definitive agreement with the European Union.

• Friday, December 1st 2023 - 09:55 UTC

  Pedro Sánchez promises Paraguayan president to work for Mercosur deal finalizing

  

  Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez held a telephone conversation this week with Paraguayan President Santiago Peña during which he insisted on his country's commitment to finalizing the trade deal between the European Union and Mercosur while he held the rotating presidency of the northern alliance. The deal would unite 800 million people and represent a quarter of the world's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). If things go on as projected, Mercosur would obtain duty-free access for 93% of its exports to the EU, with a 10-year deadline to achieve this goal.

• Thursday, November 30th 2023 - 10:11 UTC

  Uruguay and Paraguay take action to prevent equine encephalomyelitis

  

  Paraguayan and Uruguayan health authorities have been reported to be taking preventive measures regarding a possible outbreak of equine encephalomyelitis.

• Wednesday, November 29th 2023 - 10:35 UTC

  Bolivia's full Mercosur membership greenlighted

  

  Brazil's Senate Tuesday greenlighted Bolivia's accession to the South American Common Market (Mercosur) as a full member of the bloc. Once President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva enacts the bill, the regional alliance will once again consist of five full members -in addition to Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay- as it once happened when Venezuela was admitted but later suspended in 2017 for its undemocratic practices.

• Tuesday, November 28th 2023 - 10:56 UTC

  Mercosur-EU deal said to be almost done

  

  European Commission Vice President for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis said on Monday that the European Union (EU)-Mercosur trade deal was ready “for the final political push” after technical negotiations were completed.

• Tuesday, November 28th 2023 - 10:20 UTC

  Mercosur and UAE to begin trade negotiations in the first half of next year

  

  Brazil currently the chair of Mercosur has opened a consultation period until December 18 on a possible trade agreement between the South American block and the United Arab Emirates. The idea is to reach and listen to the private sector, scholars, civil society, academics and other interested parties.

• Monday, November 27th 2023 - 08:32 UTC

  Mondino brings letter from Milei to Lula

  

  Argentina's future top diplomat Diana Mondino met Sunday in Brasilia with Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and Ambassador Daniel Scioli to hand over a personal letter from Javier Milei inviting President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to his Dec. 10 inauguration in Buenos Aires.

• Saturday, November 25th 2023 - 10:21 UTC

  Uruguayan Navy seizes Brazilian boat fishing illegally

  

  Uruguay's Navy has captured a Brazilian-flagged fishing vessel carrying some three tons of illegal catch, it was reported Friday in Montevideo.