
European Commission officials confirmed Monday that a document on “Argentina’s protectionism” was filed to the World Trade Organization within the framework of the growing concern among several European countries about Buenos Aires position which is also seen as an obstacle for the renewed trade and cooperation talks between the EU and Mercosur.

The Secretary General for Ibero-America and former president of the Inter American Development Bank, IDB, Enrique Iglesias warned Monday that exiting the current global crisis will be “much slower than was anticipated” and will give greater emphasis to “more government and less markets”.

Brazil’s state development bank President Luciano Coutinho rejected criticism that record lending is placing a burden on the central bank to keep inflation in check and slowing the reduction of public debt.

Automotive production rates in Argentina increased 46.6% year-on-year in June to 65,256 units, according to the ADEFA Argentina car-makers' association. The rates are promoting the domestic economy.

The International Monetary Fund should find an adequate balance between economics and politics, and take advantage of its cross-country experience to deepen its engagement in the Western Hemisphere and improve the effectiveness of its economic policy advice, a group of high-level advisors recommended Monday.

The first week of negotiations in years between the European Union and Mercosur to reach a political and trade association agreement that took place in Buenos Aires did not end well.

The Inter American Development Bank will be electing new President this week, but with the nomination period closed last June 26 and no names presented, Colombia’s Luis Alberto Moreno seems certain to be re-elected.

Venezuela and Chile will jointly preside over a new regional block to promote integration in the Americans but excluding United States and Canada was announced over the weekend during a meeting of Foreign Affairs ministers in Venezuela.

The World Bank Group (WBG) committed 17.9 billion US dollars in fiscal year 2010 –a slightly higher figure over last year’s record lending of 17.1 billion- to support countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) as they recover from the global financial crisis and resume a path of sustained growth, according to the latest report from the multilateral organization.

Brazil’s trade surplus fell 44% in the first half of 2010 from the same period a year ago as domestic growth boosted imports of consumer goods and exports missed estimates, the Trade Ministry said.