MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, March 19th 2024 - 14:00 UTC

Mercosur

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

    Pedro Sánchez promises Paraguayan president to work for Mercosur deal finalizing

    Peña insisted that Mercosur has other arrangements in sight, such as Singapore and the United Arab Emirates

    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

    Equine encephalomyelitis calls for the same measures recommended to avoid dengue or zika, Rando explained

    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

    For Brazil, Bolivia's full membership of Mercosur means cheaper energy, Senator Chico Rodrigues explained

    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

    Lula and Sánchez hope an announcement can be made at the Mercosur summit on Dec. 7

    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

    Ana Claudia Takatsu, director of the International Negotiations department of the Brazilian Foreign Trade Secretariat, revealed UAE's interest in a comprehensive trade agreement with Mercosur members

    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

    Milei wants to soothe things up with 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

    The Vitor Hugo S was intercepted by the ROU 23 Maldonado despite the evasive maneuvers

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

  • Friday, November 24th 2023 - 10:55 UTC

    Milei plans to privatize Paraná-Paraguay Waterway

    The waterway used to be in private hands between 1995 and 2021

    Argentina's future government of President-elect Javier Milei intends to privatize the Paraná Paraguay Waterway and bidding documents have already been drafted, but collecting tolls would remain in place, it was reported Thursday in Buenos Aires. Future Infrastructure Minister Guillermo Ferraro is said to have been working on the issue for weeks.

  • Wednesday, November 22nd 2023 - 10:25 UTC

    Lula does not need to be friends with presidents of other countries

    “That's the art of democracy: we have to reach an agreement,” Lula said

    Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said Tuesday that he does not need to be friends with the heads of state of other countries, despite which it was possible to reach an agreement, Agencia Brasil reported.

  • Saturday, November 11th 2023 - 11:50 UTC

    More trouble ahead for Mercosur: EU Parliament agreement on Nature Restoration Bill

    Allegedly 80% of EU habitats are in poor condition, 70% of soils are un healthy, and 10% of bees and butterfly species, crucial for pollination, face extinction

    The European Parliament negotiators agreed on Thursday the EU Nature Restoration Bill which requires member countries to restore 20% of EU land and sea habitats by 2030, a bill that has already triggered spontaneous protests from the farming community in several EU countries.