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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, May 23rd 2026 - 06:22 UTC

Brazil

  • Friday, May 1st 2026 - 06:40 UTC

    After 25 years of negotiation, the Mercosur-EU agreement takes effect this Friday

    The accord was signed on January 17th in La Asunción, Paraguay

    The association agreement between Mercosur and the European Union (EU) enters provisionally into force on Friday May 1, after more than a quarter-century of negotiations, in what constitutes one of the world's most ambitious trade deals and the largest reciprocal opening ever finalised by the South American bloc. The final signing took place on January 17 in Asunción and, although final ratification by the European Court of Justice and subsequent approval by the European Parliament remain pending, provisional entry into force allows the immediate start of tariff reductions covering 95% of Mercosur products and 91% of EU products.

  • Thursday, April 30th 2026 - 13:25 UTC

    Brazil's fiscal deficit climbs to 9.41% of GDP amid economic slowdown and election year

    The Brazilian economy grew 2.3% in 2025, below the 3.4% recorded in 2024, and the Central Bank itself projects a further slowdown to 1.6% for the current year

    Brazil's nominal public sector deficit reached 9.41% of gross domestic product in the twelve months to March 2026, nearly one percentage point higher than the previous period, according to data published on Thursday by the Central Bank. The combined shortfall of all public administrations — central government, states, and municipalities — stood at 1.21 trillion reais, equivalent to around $244 billion, in one of the highest readings in recent years for Latin America's largest economy.

  • Wednesday, April 29th 2026 - 15:08 UTC

    Lula's Supreme Court nominee defends limits on judicial power in Brazilian Senate hearing

    The vote takes on political significance five months before the October general elections, in which Lula will seek re-election

    Jorge Messias, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's nominee to fill the open seat at the Federal Supreme Court (STF), defended on Wednesday before the Senate the need to limit the power of judges, in a bid to expand support for his candidacy in what is shaping up to be a closely contested vote. The Solicitor General of the Union appeared before the Constitution and Justice Committee, where he made explicit overtures toward the Bolsonarist right-wing opposition, particularly critical of the country's top court's recent rulings.

  • Wednesday, April 29th 2026 - 13:46 UTC

    US/Iran war lifting oil prices, but benefiting countries such as Australia, Norway and Brazil

    The Brazilian Real has been among the best performing major currencies against the US dollar

    The US-Iran conflict has propelled currencies from energy-exporting countries into the limelight, with windfall profits from exports of oil, gas and metals helping them to outperform the US dollar.

  • Thursday, April 23rd 2026 - 12:28 UTC

    Latin America's largest investment bank targets Uruguay as regional hub after acquiring local HSBC unit

    Founded in 1983 in Rio de Janeiro, the group is present in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru

    Brazilian group BTG Pactual, Latin America's largest investment bank, is awaiting authorisation from Uruguay's Central Bank (BCU) to begin operating in the local financial market following its $175 million acquisition of HSBC Uruguay, agreed in July 2025. Group executives expect regulatory approval to come through by mid-year, allowing them to begin operations gradually in the second half of 2026.

  • Tuesday, April 21st 2026 - 18:17 UTC

    Paraguay attracts record foreigners with low taxes and new investor residency program

    Paraguay consolidated over recent decades a simplified tax structure known as “10-10-10”: 10% VAT, 10% personal income tax and 10% corporate income tax.

    Foreign residency applications in Paraguay surged 85% in the first quarter of 2026, reaching 18,071 compared to 9,760 in the same period of 2025, the National Migration Directorate reported. Temporary residency requests jumped 105% to 14,995, while permanent residency applications rose 25% to 3,076.

  • Friday, April 17th 2026 - 21:49 UTC

    Lula and Sanchez seal progressive alliance in Barcelona and call for front against global far right

    Sánchez responded that Spain and Brazil share “the same vision of the world, anchored in the defense of democracy, international cooperation, respect for international law and human rights, and peace”

    Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Friday cemented a political alliance in Barcelona between the European and Latin American left against the advance of the far right on both continents. At the first bilateral Spain-Brazil summit, held at the Pedralbes Palace with military honors and the participation of roughly ten ministers from each side, both leaders displayed total alignment and signed a series of cooperation agreements.

  • Thursday, April 16th 2026 - 23:08 UTC

    “We are oppressed in Brazil”: thousands of conservative Brazilians seek new life in Paraguay

    Paraguay broke a record in 2025 by granting 40,600 residency permits to foreigners. More than half — 23,500 — went to Brazilians, far outpacing the 4,300 Argentines in second place

    Hundreds of Brazilians camped overnight on beach chairs, plastic benches and tarps outside an immigration center in Ciudad del Este, on the border with Brazil, to secure a spot in a Paraguayan government drive to fast-track residency applications. Some organized an improvised barbecue on a barrel while they waited. Others had traveled more than 1,500 kilometers by bus. All shared a common thread: the desire to leave Brazil for reasons they describe as political, economic and ideological, according to a report by BBC News Brasil.

  • Tuesday, April 14th 2026 - 01:34 UTC

    Brazil coffee exports fall 21% in Q1 despite record crop forecast

    March figures continued the downward trend: shipments declined 8% year-on-year to three million bags and revenues dropped 15.1%, to US$1.125 billion

    Brazil, the world's largest coffee producer and exporter, shipped 8.4 million 60-kilogram bags between January and March 2026, a volume 21.2% below the same period in 2025, the Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council (Cecafé) reported on Monday. Export revenues also fell 13.6%, to US$3.371 billion.

  • Friday, April 10th 2026 - 15:26 UTC

    Brazil's inflation rises to 4.14% in March driven by higher fuel and food costs

    The main driver of the acceleration was higher fuel costs, directly linked to international oil market volatility caused by the war between the United States, Israel and Iran

    Annual inflation in Brazil accelerated to 4.14% in March, pushed higher by rising fuel and food prices, the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) reported on Friday. The figure reverses the slowdown recorded in February, when the index had eased to 3.81%.