Latin America

• Thursday, February 13th 2014 - 21:45 UTC

  Ms Fiona Clouder takes her post as new British Ambassador in Chile

  

  Ambassador Fiona Clouder has taken her post as the new British ambassador in Chile. On taking the post Ms Clouder reaffirmed the close relations of UK with Chile, one of the most important countries in the region.

• Thursday, February 13th 2014 - 04:01 UTC

  At least four people killed as thousands march in Caracas for and against Maduro

  

  At least four people have been killed, including a police officer, after thousands of Venezuelans in two different marches, opposing and supporting President Nicolas Maduro took to the streets of Caracas on Wednesday following two weeks of anti-government protests across the country.

• Thursday, February 13th 2014 - 03:06 UTC

  January inflation climbed 4.61% during January according to Congress index

  

  Argentina's inflation in January climbed to 4.61% and 30.78% in the last twelve months according to the average from private consultants estimates which are released every month by opposition lawmakers in what is known as the 'Congressional index'.

• Wednesday, February 12th 2014 - 09:09 UTC

  Pacific Alliance signs accord to scrap 92% of inter-trade tariffs and bolster ties with Asia

  

  Heads of state from the Pacific Alliance, comprised of Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru, signed a deal on Monday that will scrap 92% of tariffs on goods and services traded between them. Created in 2012 the Alliance aims to integrate free markets in trade, energy, finance and infrastructure, and bolster ties with Asia, a key trading partner.

• 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”.