Consumer prices in Uruguay during January soared 2.44%, according to the latest release from the stats office, INE, and the highest percentage since 2002. This means accumulated inflation in the last twelve months reached 9,10%, compared to the 8.52% for the twelve months of 2013.
China became Uruguay's main trade partner in 2013 totaling 20.9% of all trade according to the latest stats from the Central bank. This leaves China three percentage points ahead of Brazil, 18.8% (traditionally the main partner) and almost four ahead of Argentina with 18.1%.
Uruguayan president Jose Mujica said there is 'nothing guaranteed' in the coming talks with Argentina over a long list of bilateral issues, in reference to his meeting on Tuesday with president Cristina Fernandez in Cuba on the sidelines of the recent Celac summit. Mujica was interviewed by a Uruguayan television channel.
Uruguay, Ecuador and Malta were named as the best three countries in the world when it comes to climate.
Mercosur and the European Union continue to work on their tariff reduction proposals list but have no scheduled date for negotiators to meet and advance on a long delayed trade agreement according to Uruguayan diplomatic sources. However what is certain is that when the date is agreed it will be clear if Mercosur consensus proposal will include all founding members of the group.
A meeting of the presidents from Argentina and Uruguay, Cristina Fernandez and Jose Mujica has not been agreed but is 'in the agenda' said Uruguayan foreign minister Luis Almagro following an hour long meeting with his counterpart Hector Timerman on Wednesday in Montevideo.
Container operators in the port of Montevideo are demanding from Uruguayan authorities an agreement with Argentina to recover all the transshipment activity which has been lost since November when the government of President Cristina Fernandez retaliated against Uruguay over bilateral issues.
Uruguayan foreign minister Luis Almagro said it should not come as a surprise if the negotiations for a trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union does not include all four original full members and leaves one out, although the objective is for all members to be part of the accord.
Uruguayan president Jose Mujica said that Mercosur is seriously impaired but it also has its strong points, and the fact Paraguay resumes full membership is very positive. Mujica was interviewed by a government financed newspaper, La República and again referred to the postponed Mercosur summit and the deteriorated relations with Argentina.
Uruguay's main university hospital, suffering from an outbreak of the highly contagious bacteria Clostridium Difficile has been recommended to suspend new entries to the sections involved, restrict visits and extreme hygiene measures plus an epidemiological test of patients and staff.