
Brazil’s trade surplus fell 19.8% in 2010 to 20.28 billion USD, the smallest in eight years. Exports grew 31.4% to 201.9 billion, a new record, but imports surged 41.6% to 181.64 billion, the Ministry of Development, Industry and Commerce said this week.

Brazil on Tuesday threatened tougher capital controls and other measures to keep its currency from rising against the dollar, a day after Chile's central bank unveiled its own $12 billion plan to buy greenbacks.

In her inauguration speech Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff promised greater consistence for Mercosur and Unasur so that the region can become an essential component of the “coming multipolar world”. She also anticiapted closer relations with all countries from Latinamerica, the Caribbean and Africa and the peoples of Middle East and a greater role for Brazil in world political and financial affairs.

Brazilian state-controlled energy giant Petrobras on Wednesday confirmed the commercial viability of two massive offshore oil and gas fields located deep beneath the ocean floor, announcing that one of them will now be known as “Lula.”

Relations between the United States and Latin America have not changed in any meaningful way under President Barack Obama, Brazilian head of state Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said.

Over a million tourists (1.064.731) had visited until Christmas Argentina’s Iguazu Falls national park, a number which should reach 1.2 million when the 2010 calendar year is completed according to Iguazu Argentina that have the park’s concession.

Brazil's central bank reiterated Wednesday its clear commitment to raise interest rates soon, as the outlook for inflation has become “far less favorable” than it had previously thought.

Soybean growers in Brazil, the world’s largest producer after the U.S., may harvest more of the oilseeds next year than the government estimated earlier this month, Agriculture Minister Wagner Rossi said on Wednesday.

State Grid Corp. of China completed the purchase of seven electricity distribution businesses in Brazil for 989 million US dollars, announced the government this week.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will head the United States delegation to attend the inauguration of Brazilian president-elect Dilma Rousseff next January first, announced Wednesday the White House.