Brazil

• Saturday, March 23rd 2019 - 08:58 UTC

  Brazil's Vale allegedly quashed efforts to audit the dam that killed 300 people

  

  Executives at Vale SA, the world's largest iron ore miner, quashed efforts by Brazilian authorities to audit one of the company's mining dams months before it collapsed and killed over 300 people, a state prosecutor was quoted as saying by news website G1 on Wednesday.

• Saturday, March 23rd 2019 - 07:31 UTC

  Seven countries have launched the Forum for Progress of South America

  

  South American countries on Friday launched the Forum for the Progress of South America (Prosur), a new regional bloc which seeks the “integration and strengthening of the region.”

• Saturday, March 23rd 2019 - 07:17 UTC

  Ex Brazilian president silent on questioning; he could be released on Wednesday

  

  A Brazilian appeals court will decide on Wednesday whether to grant a request for the release of former President Michel Temer, a judge at the court said on Friday. Judge Ivan Athié said that the Regional Federal Court of the 2nd Region (TRF-2) will decide on the petition by Temer's defense.

• Friday, March 22nd 2019 - 09:40 UTC

  Brazil's central bank with new chief leaves rates unchanged; policy is determined “with caution and serenity”

  

  Brazil's interest rates remained unchanged on Wednesday after the central bank held its first monetary policy meeting under its new chief Roberto Campos Neto. The central bank's unanimous decision -- only the second since pro-business President Jair Bolsonaro took power in January on a promise to revive Latin America's biggest economy -- to keep rates at 6.5% was in line with market expectations.

• Friday, March 22nd 2019 - 09:06 UTC

  Bolsonaro wants trade to represent 30% of Brazil's GDP y 2022

  

  The Brazilian government wants trade to represent 30% of the country’s gross domestic product by the end of 2022, with one official saying on Wednesday it will get there on the back of President Jair Bolsonaro’s liberalization plans.

• Friday, March 22nd 2019 - 08:52 UTC

  Brazil farm minister not satisfied with US promises of market opening for fresh beef

  

  Brazil’s farm minister said that a U.S. agreement to conduct further inspections on the country’s meatpacking system is a step toward reopening the United States to fresh Brazilian beef, but is not sufficient.

• Friday, March 22nd 2019 - 08:29 UTC

  What new WTO and OECD status would mean for Brazil

  

  Brazil’s agreement with the United States to forgo special treatment by the World Trade Organization (WTO) would apply only to future negotiations within the multilateral trade body, Director General Roberto Azevedo said on Wednesday.

• Thursday, March 21st 2019 - 14:41 UTC

  Brazil: Former President Michel Temer is arrested

  

  Former Brazilian President Michel Temer was arrested on Thursday on corruption charges, a dramatic development in a sprawling corruption probe that has roiled Brazil has showed no sign of slowing.

• Thursday, March 21st 2019 - 09:55 UTC

  Mexico and Brazil agree on a free trade for light vehicles

  

  Mexico’s government said it had reached an agreement with Brazil on the free trade of light vehicles, subject to a 40% regional content requirement, paving the way for more open commerce between Latin America’s two biggest economies.

• Thursday, March 21st 2019 - 09:52 UTC

  GM announces US$ 2.5bn investment in Brazilian car industry

  

  General Motors Co said it would invest US$ 2.7 billion in two Brazilian factories over the next five years, sparing them from a shakeup of the automaker’s operations, a decision hailed by the governor of Brazil’s largest state.