MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, March 31st 2026 - 05:42 UTC

Economy

  • Monday, May 15th 2023 - 10:38 UTC

    Argentina to import food to curb price hikes

    Food accounted for much of the inflation the Argentine government is unable to control

    Argentine authorities Sunday announced a set of measures to tackle inflation, which include more active involvement in the foreign exchange market. But the most striking of them all was the opening of food imports at zero tariffs to hit local producers who over-benefitted from protectionism.

  • Saturday, May 13th 2023 - 10:58 UTC

    Argentina: April's monthly inflation set at 8.4%

    Prices go up “just in case,” President Fernández explained before the Indec announced April's results

    Argentina's National Institute of Statistics and Census (Indec) Friday announced that inflation for the month of April of 2023 was 8.4%, way above all projections. Interannually, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) reached 108.8% and the accumulated variation in the first four months of the year was 32%. It is the highest monthly inflation since April 2002 (10.4%) and the highest year-on-year figure since 1991. Since Alberto Fernández took office in December 2019, prices increased 448%.

  • Friday, May 12th 2023 - 10:59 UTC

    Brazil asks US to help Argentine with IMF talks

    Haddad said he feared the far right could gain momentum in Argentina if the economic crisis is not solved promptly

    The Brazilian Government of President Luiz Inàcio Lula Da Silva Thursday asked the US Treasury Department to exert some pressure on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) -of which the US is the largest shareholder- to help Argentina overcome the current crisis caused by the drought while still bound by commitments signed with the world entity, which are holding back the economic development of the South American country.

  • Friday, May 12th 2023 - 10:55 UTC

    On Brazil's lead, Canada and Mercosur advance trade negotiations

    Between January and April 2023, Brazil exported US$ 1.526 billion to Canada and imported US$ 1.104 billion, resulting in a surplus of US$ 421.7 million for Brazil.

    Brazil is leading efforts to increase its own and Mercosur interests in closer trade and investment relations with Canada. This week the Brazilian Foreign Trade Secretary from the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services, MDIC, Tatiana Prazeres received the Canadian ambassador in Brasilia, Emmanuel Kamarianakis and special representatives, with the purpose of strengthening trade relations between both countries and the regional block Mercosur.

  • Friday, May 12th 2023 - 10:45 UTC

    Brazilian FM says EU's proposal too demanding for Mercosur-EU FTA

    The fulfillment of those environmental goals depends on the “climate conditions” and should not be open to sanctions, Vieira explained

    Brazil's Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira Thursday said during an appearance before his country's Senatorial Foreign Relations Committee that the European Union's (EU) new environmental requirements for the Mercosur-EU agreement could cause “enormous damage” to the South American bloc.

  • Friday, May 12th 2023 - 10:30 UTC

    Despite fears of recession and bank failures, US economy manages 4,9% inflation and unemployment stands at 3,4%

    While prices for milk, airline tickets and new cars fell during April, housing, petrol and used car prices all jumped from March to April

    Inflation in the US has fallen to 4,9%, in the twelve months to April, according to official figures. That was down from 5% in March and marks the tenth month in a row that price rises have slowed.

  • Friday, May 12th 2023 - 10:16 UTC

    Ecuador and China reach FTA

    The deal “puts Ecuador on the map of Asia,” Prado said

    Ecuador and China signed a free trade agreement (FTA) whereby the South American country will have access to a market of 1.4 billion people, it was reported in Quito on Wednesday. It was the second such pact signed under the administration of President Guillermo Lasso, following the one reached with Costa Rica.

  • Wednesday, May 10th 2023 - 10:40 UTC

    Lula and Sunak discussed trade, investment, forestry and Ukraine in London

    The Prime Minister praised President Lula’s leadership on climate change and welcomed his reflections on the concerning situation in the Amazon.

    British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak welcomed President Lula da Silva to Downing Street ahead of King Charles III Coronation on Saturday. The leaders discussed the great potential in the relationship between the UK and Brazil, including in health, research and development and technology.

  • Tuesday, May 9th 2023 - 10:55 UTC

    Talks between Argentina and IMF “progressing constructively”

    Argentina hopes the IMF makes all of its 2023 disbursements next month

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) admitted negotiations with the Argentine Government were still going on toward a redesigning of the country's program in light of the present drought, while Casa Rosada sources agreed that “the conversations” were “progressing constructively.”

  • Monday, May 8th 2023 - 10:21 UTC

    Brazil: Millions could fall into poverty unless proper investing is done

    Green technologies are gaining space, and this affects demand, one of the authors of the World Bank's study found

    Millions of Brazilians could be thrown into extreme poverty in the next few years due to weather-related phenomena, a report released last week by the World Bank showed.