Argentina's economy grew 0.5% in the first quarter the government said on Wednesday, adding that it saw activity leveling out this year before accelerating in 2017. The year-on-year result, published by the newly revamped Indec statistics agency, followed analysts' forecasts for a 1.3% contraction for the January through March period.
Argentina's double-digit inflation has shown signs of easing this month, the central bank said on Tuesday as it cut its 35-day reference rate for the eighth week in a row. As part of its effort to get Latin America's No. 3 economy out of the doldrums while containing consumer prices, the bank sliced 75 basis points off the interest rate to 30.75%.
The Pacific Alliance under the helm of Chile, beginning next July first will reach out for closer links with Mercosur, particularly since Argentina's decision to join the block as an observer. The Argentine decision to join the Pacific Alliance as an observer fully harmonizes with Chile's strategy of making both blocks converge, according to Andres Rebolledo, head of Chile's Directorate of International Economic Relations.
Mercosur presidential summit next July in Montevideo has been cancelled, but the six-month presidency of the group, currently held by Uruguay will be transferred as scheduled to Venezuela, although some conditions of the event are “pending discussion”, said on Monday foreign ministers Susana Malcorra and host Rodolfo Nin Novoa.
Argentina’s annual rate of inflation was likely to have reached an annualized 42% through May, but should begin to slow in June with a return to growth also on the horizon, Finance Minister Alfonso Prat-Gay said in an address to investors in New York. The minister also said that for Argentina, Brazil's recession had a greater impact than Brexit.
The exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union is of most concern to the administration of Argentine president Mauricio Macri, said foreign minister Susana Malcorra. It is a shock for world institutions, but it's too early to gauge the impact on the Falklands/Malvinas discussions.
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange anticipated that the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union will further complicate negotiations with Argentina regarding the Falklands/Malvinas sovereignty dispute because of a resurgence of what he described as British nationalism.
The Leave victory in UK and its impact on the Falklands and Argentina's ongoing claim over the Islands was addressed by Argentine academics and diplomats. Probably the man with most experience and knowledge in the trilateral relation between London, Buenos Aires and the Falklands is former Deputy foreign minister Andres Cisneros, who worked next to Guido Di Tella.
With a less aggressive tone but with the same determination, Argentine foreign minister Susana Malcorra (and hopeful UN Secretary General), argued that the principle of self-determination is not absolute and does not apply to the disputed Falkland/Malvinas Islands, since the principle of territorial integrity of States prevails, and the inhabitants of the Malvinas are not recognized as a people.
Argentina is planting an additional one million of hectares with wheat this austral winter, taking the total area to 5.3 million hectares, spurred by the end of export duties and quotas, and a floating exchange rate, according to the Agro/Industry ministry in Buenos Aires.