Economy

• Wednesday, December 20th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Bolivian businessmen reticent about joining Mercosur

  

  Bolivian businessmen showed some reticence about their country's full incorporation to Mercosur arguing it was a “threat” for the local agro-industry and could involve potential farm sales losses to the Community of Andean Nations.

• Wednesday, December 20th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Bush extends tariff preferences to Andean nations

  President George W. Bush signed legislation Wednesday extending for six months existent trade benefits to four Andean nations: Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. According to the bill countries that approve free trade agreements, FTA, with the US will have a further six months.

• Wednesday, December 20th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  The Economist: energy Argentina's “biggest worry”

  

  In five years Argentina's recovery from catastrophe has been “swift”, but the “biggest worry” now is energy and how long growth can continue, writes The Economist in its latest edition.

• Tuesday, December 19th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Global warming harms Chile's salmon industry

  

  Two environmental experts lashed out the Chilean and Argentine governments this week for their failure to address environmental issues currently damaging ecosystems and agriculture on both sides of the Andes.

• Tuesday, December 19th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Spanish concern over Argentine stance on Falkland fisheries

  

  Representatives from the General Secretariat of Maritime Fisheries (SGPM) and the Spanish General Directorate of Fisheries Resources met with the Argentine lawmaker Silvia Giusti in the Argentine Senate for talks over the bill that tacitly proposes eliminating the so called “double permits.”

• Tuesday, December 19th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  New Petrobras rig with 135.000 bpd potential

  Petrobras began operating this week a new oil rig with an estimated initial daily production of 15.000 barrels of heavy oil, 17 degrees API in the Jubarte field off Espirito Santo state, according to a release from the corporation.

• Monday, December 18th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Oil companies celebrate new Argentine law

  

  Oil firms operating in Argentina celebrated a law passed this month to transfer property of hydrocarbons from the nation to provinces, saying that it will foster legal security and investments. But critics say that it will do nothing but “atomize” control over oil and gas exploration and exploitation.

• Monday, December 18th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Energy crisis

  

  Argentina is facing a severe energy shortage that many experts blame on the lack of investments since the 2001-2002 economy crisis and despite GDP has grown at about nine percent over the last four years.

• Sunday, December 17th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina begins 3D exploration in South Atlantic

  

  Argentina began this month ninety days oil and gas 3D seismic surveying of its continental platform in the Colorada Marina basin 200 miles off Mar del Plata.

• Saturday, December 16th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Cautious optimism in Latin América

  

  Governments in Latin America and the Caribbean expect a fourth straight year of economic growth in 2006, topped by a jump of 12.5 percent in Cuba, according to a report issued Thursday by the UN economic agency for the region.