Latin America

• Tuesday, February 11th 2014 - 23:44 UTC

  “It is not clear where the Argentine government is heading or who is in charge”

  

  It is not clear where the government commanded by Argentine president Cristina Fernández is heading to, Economy Minister of neighboring Uruguay Mario Bergara affirmed saying the economic ups and downs in Argentina have deeply impacted on Uruguayan exports, tourism and real estate activities.

• Tuesday, February 11th 2014 - 08:38 UTC

  Paraguay and Venezuela to discuss Mercosur summit delays and oil

  

  Mercosur summit delays and oil are two of the main issues the Paraguayan foreign minister Eladio Loizaga will address with his Venezuelan peer Elias Jaua, when he travels on Thursday to Caracas. Formally the event is a diplomatic reciprocity for Jaua's visit to Paraguay last 9 October, when the two countries re-established full relations.

• Tuesday, February 11th 2014 - 08:18 UTC

  Subsidies in the Argentine economy totaled an estimated 4.9% of GDP in 2013

  

  Economic subsidies for Argentine public and private companies last year totaled an estimated 143 billion pesos, or 4.9% of GDP, the highest level in eight years, according to a joint report by the Professional Council of Economic Sciences (CPCE) and the Argentine Institute of Fiscal Analysis (IARAF) released this week, and which was summarized by the Buenos Aires Herald.

• Tuesday, February 11th 2014 - 07:53 UTC

  Paraguay concerned with Argentine plans to move nuclear facilities to border area

  

  Paraguay has instructed its ambassador in Buenos Aires to collect information on Argentina's plans to set up an uranium processing plant in the northern province of Formosa, neighboring with the land-locked country.

• Monday, February 10th 2014 - 04:06 UTC

  Uruguay and Brazil prepared to a 'two-speed' Mercosur/EU trade negotiation

  

  Uruguay and Brazil could be prepared to go ahead with a 'two speed' trade negotiations between Mercosur and the European Union if the Argentine tariff proposal is not as ambitious as that from the rest of its members, according to Uruguayan diplomatic sources.

• Monday, February 10th 2014 - 03:08 UTC

  Argentine ultra-Kirchner militants call for government control over foreign trade

  

  Following on President Cristina Fernandez administration strategy of blaming big business and banks as speculators that force price increases and the devaluation of the Peso, this weekend a group which brings together intellectuals who support the Argentine Kirchnerite Victory Front have published a new letter titled “The Nation in Danger”.

• Saturday, February 8th 2014 - 09:10 UTC

  Capitanich reacts to US Senators statements on Cristina Fernandez government

  

  Argentina's cabinet chief Jorge Capitanich reacted on Friday to US Senators' remarks who on Thursday harshly criticized the economic policies of President Cristina Fernandez administration and forecasted an economic collapse sooner than later.

• Saturday, February 8th 2014 - 06:35 UTC

  Mercosur interested in trade integration with members of the Pacific Alliance, says Brazil

  

  Mercosur pretends to increase its trade integration with members from the Pacific Alliance, said Brazilian foreign minister Luiz Alberto Figuereido. The top official made the statement this week before the Brazilian Senate foreign affairs committee.

• Friday, February 7th 2014 - 07:13 UTC

  Two leading US Senators anticipate an economic crisis in Argentina, soon

  

  The current Argentine economic situation reached the US Capitol during the hearings to consider President Obama's nomination for future ambassador in Buenos Aires, and what was said was not encouraging.

• Thursday, February 6th 2014 - 05:06 UTC

  Venezuela business organizations will challenge in court latest measures by Maduro administration

  

  A leading Venezuelan businessman rejected a new presidential decree limiting the profit margins of companies, vowing to take the fight all the way to the country’s Supreme Court. The President of the Venezuelan Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Fedecámaras) Jorge Roig, announced he had the backing of his organization and other business leaders.