Latin America

• 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.

• Thursday, February 6th 2014 - 01:00 UTC

  Panama Canal expansion halted; Spanish consortia says a 'final offer' has been made

  

  A dispute over a 1.6 billion dollar cost overrun in the Panama Canal's expansion took a new twist Wednesday after a Spanish company leading the project denied it halted work over the spat.

• Wednesday, February 5th 2014 - 08:54 UTC

  Pacific Alliance summit will remove tariffs from 92% of goods and services

  

  The four presidents of the Pacific Alliance are scheduled to sign next Monday the trade group's Additional Protocol which will remove tariffs on 92% of goods and services, effective immediately, announced Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos who will be hosting the summit in Cartagena.

• Wednesday, February 5th 2014 - 08:31 UTC

  Argentina grateful to Grenada for Malvinas claim support, promises cooperation

  

  Grenada foreign minister Nickolas Steele is in Buenos Aires for a two-day visit which included a meeting with his peer Hector Timerman and other top officials from the foreign ministry to discuss cooperation, economic development and trade issues.

• Tuesday, February 4th 2014 - 23:09 UTC

  Deputy PM Nick Clegg in Colombia calls for new drugs policy in the UK

  

  The UK should abandon its current drugs policy because the war on drugs is not being won, Nick Clegg has said. Speaking on a visit to Colombia, the deputy prime minister said different approaches were needed although he did not back full legalization. He also praised President Juan Manuel Santos commitment to the peace process with FARC and welcomed the human rights' policy.

• Tuesday, February 4th 2014 - 23:00 UTC

  Desperate Argentine officials target big business as the culprits of the current situation

  

  The Argentine government announced on Tuesday it has started “a thorough investigation on major foreign trade companies” which have allegedly registered accounting irregularities for 6.8 billion dollars. Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanich said the Central Bank has reported “mining, grain, food, car and oil companies have exported but failed to account for foreign currency income.”

• Tuesday, February 4th 2014 - 08:50 UTC

  Quasi-monies could be back in Argentina if provinces don't receive financial support by March

  

  Quasi monies could be back in Argentina since many provinces and city councils are running short of funds and the federal government is not sending the checks be it because of political differences or simply because there is not enough money to go around.

• Tuesday, February 4th 2014 - 08:39 UTC

  Brazil's experiences the worst January trade balance in years: 4.06bn deficit

  

  Brazil's balance of trade began 2014 with disappointing results, after closing January with a deficit of 4.06 billion dollars, according to the figures released by the Ministry of Industry, Development and Foreign Trade. Exports totaled 16.02bn dollars, while imports reached 20.08bn.