Economy

• Wednesday, July 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Ban calls collapse of Doha round trade as “disappointing”

  United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced on Wednesday disappointment at the collapse of the Doha round of trade liberalization negotiations, expressing concern over the effect of the breakdown of the talks on developing nations.

• Wednesday, July 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentine electricity rates hiked in July from 10 to 30%

  

  Faced with energy shortages after years of minimum investment, neglected maintenance and frozen rates the Argentine government announced this week electricity hikes to the tune of 10 to 30% for residential customers, the first since 2002.

• Tuesday, July 29th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Right moment for Montevideo port to become regional hub

  

  The recurrent conflicts in Brazilian ports are having a direct impact on River Plate maritime traffic but the situation could be overcome if Montevideo expands its facilities and becomes a hub for the region, according to maritime agents.

• Tuesday, July 29th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  IMF warns credit crunch is extending to the whole world

  The global credit crunch shows no signs of abating, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In its latest global financial stability report the IMF says that falling house prices and slowing economic growth are hitting credit.

• Tuesday, July 29th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Trade talks failure, seen as death kiss for multilateralism

  

  Marathon talks in Geneva aimed at liberalizing global trade have collapsed admitted the head of the World Trade Organisation Pascal Lamy. Officials have blamed China, India and the US for failing to agree on import rules.

• Monday, July 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Uruguay brand beef shipped directly to EU consumers

  

  By the end of the year Uruguay will be shipping beef directly to European Union consumers. The locally packed presentations will have all the traceability information plus the brand name with all the consumer data the supermarket wishes or has to comply with.

• Monday, July 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Uruguay record year for farm production and export

  

  Farm production in Uruguay will consolidate its sixth year running of expansion, 66.5% since 2002, and farm exports are forecasted to reach 4.2 billion US dollars, a 51% increase over last year, according to a report from the Ministry of Agriculture Programming and Policies Office, OPYPA.

• Monday, July 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  US accuses India and China of putting at risk Doha talks

  

  World trade talks entered a second week on Monday in Geneva with the United States representative accusing India and China of endangering the success of the discussions for having rejected a compromise painfully worked out by WTO Director General Pascal Lamy.

• Monday, July 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Chinese leaders concern with slower growth and inflation

  

  The People's Bank of China, (central bank) in a summary of its second-quarter policy meeting, pledged to keep a “consistent” monetary stance, the same word used on Friday by the top leadership of the ruling Communist Party to describe the planned thrust of economic policy for the rest of 2008.

• Monday, July 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Bush legacy: record deficit surprises for next US president

  

  The next United States president is expected to face a record federal budget deficit of almost half a trillion dollars. The White House is tipped to lift its deficit forecast for 2009 to 490 billion from 407 billion US dollars.