Stories for July 22nd 2017

Saturday, July 22nd 2017 - 23:04 UTC
NAFTA members agree negotiations round; Mexico insists on strict timetable

United States, Mexican and Canadian officials have agreed to an aggressive timetable to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), sources said, aiming to conclude early next year to avoid Mexico’s 2018 presidential elections.
Saturday, July 22nd 2017 - 22:58 UTC
Mining companies considering expansion in Chile as copper price recovers

Chilean authorities have approved a US$2.5 billion expansion of BHP Billiton's Spence copper mine, a local newspaper reported, though the company has not yet decided whether to go ahead with the project.
Saturday, July 22nd 2017 - 22:17 UTC
Growing significance of trade with Latin America for India

(*)By R. Viswanathan - For those who think that Latin America is too far and cost of freight is too high and therefore the region should be less important for India’s trade, here is the eye opener from the 2016-17 (April-March) statistics of the Commerce Ministry of India.
Saturday, July 22nd 2017 - 12:31 UTC
Hammond reportedly told Goldman Sachs he favors a Brexit lengthy transition period

Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond reportedly told the board of U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs that he was pushing for a lengthy transition period after Britain leaves the European Union, a source familiar with the talks said. The source said Hammond made a presentation to the Goldman Sachs board on June 29 when CEO Lloyd Blankfein was in London for the annual board meeting.
Saturday, July 22nd 2017 - 12:10 UTC
International legal cooperation has been essential in combating corruption admits Brazilian Prosecutor General

Former Brazilian President Lula da Silva’s conviction on corruption charges is not a political statement, but an enforcement of the law demonstrative of Brazil’s commitment to combat corruption at the highest levels of society, Brazilian Prosecutor-General Rodrigo Janot said at the Atlantic Council this week.
Saturday, July 22nd 2017 - 11:53 UTC
Trump revamps communications office: names a hedge fund banker and Fox Business hand

United States President Donald Trump has triggered a shake-up by appointing Wall Street financier Anthony Scaramucci as his White House communications director. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer quit, reportedly in response to the move, which was announced on 21 July. He had been partially filling the communications role since the previous incumbent Michael Dubke resigned in May.
Saturday, July 22nd 2017 - 11:31 UTC
New Lib-Dem leader pledges “exit from Brexit” and calls to capture “gigantic space” in British politics

Sir Vince Cable has become the new leader of the Liberal Democrats with a promise to offer voters the possibility of an “exit from Brexit” through a second referendum on EU membership. The former business secretary took up the role after nominations for the post closed without him facing any challengers, becoming, at 74, the oldest leader in the party’s history.
Saturday, July 22nd 2017 - 11:23 UTC
Spanish concern with Brexit impacts on Gibraltar's neighboring towns

Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alfonso Dastis, will visit the Campo de Gibraltar in September to discuss the impact of Brexit on cross-border workers and the wider region. The forthcoming visit was announced late Thursday night following a meeting in Madrid between the minister and officials from the Campo.
Saturday, July 22nd 2017 - 11:06 UTC
Only Venezuelan legislative has power to convene elections, argues OAS based on Venice Commission

The office of OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro released a statement with comments from the European Council Venice Commission on the legality of the Venezuelan presidency decree which was used to convene elections for a constituent assembly to modify the country´s main law.
Saturday, July 22nd 2017 - 08:39 UTC
Venezuelan situation overshadows Mercosur presidential summit

The members of Mercosur trade bloc called for an end to violence in Venezuela in a joint statement on Friday. However again opinions were divided: while Brazil and Argentina sponsored a more explicit warning to President Nicolas Maduro and his regime, Uruguay had it redrafted in a more conciliatory tone and Paraguay finally came out with a compromise option.