Latin America

• Wednesday, May 8th 2013 - 09:56 UTC

  Maduro promises Uruguay permanent supply of oil and full Mercosur commitment

  

  President Nicolas Maduro promised his Uruguayan counterpart Jose Mujica a “permanent” supply of petroleum from oil-rich Venezuela during the first leg of his visit to Mercosur member countries. Maduro also announced the signing of a strategic alliance in the energy sector with Uruguay.

• Wednesday, May 8th 2013 - 09:40 UTC

  First Latinamerican and BRIC representative next head of WTO

  

  Brazil's Roberto Azevedo has won the race to become the next head of the World Trade Organization, the first candidate from Latinamerica and from the BRIC club of emerging economies to take the job.

• Wednesday, May 8th 2013 - 09:29 UTC

  China fears a US/EU free trade area could become protectionist; looks to Latinamerica

  

  China has raised concerns about European Union plans to negotiate an ambitious free trade deal with the United States, fearing it is a protectionist move and at the same time Beijing new administration is doubling efforts towards Latinamerica and Africa.

• Wednesday, May 8th 2013 - 09:19 UTC

  Uruguay’s inflation in April eased for third month running, but remains above target

  

  Inflation in Uruguay during April slowed down for third month running, according to the latest release from the country’s Statistics Office, INE. Consumer prices in the fourth month of the year climbed 0.45% with inflation in the last twelve months reaching 8.14%, compare to 8.54% in March.

• Wednesday, May 8th 2013 - 09:15 UTC

  Chilean court finds naval officers guilty of abduction of Anglo-Chilean priest

  

  Chilean court has found two ex-navy officers guilty of the abduction of Anglo-Chilean priest Michael Woodward. The left-wing priest disappeared shortly after the coup that brought Gen Augusto Pinochet to power in 1973 and his body has never been found.

• Wednesday, May 8th 2013 - 02:44 UTC

  Dollar in Argentina breaks 10 Pesos barrier, despite Cristina Fernandez and her “I want to leave” minister

  

  The ‘blue’ or parallel dollar in Argentina beat a new record on Tuesday by breaking the 10 Pesos milestone and ending trading at 10.08 Pesos. The official rate meantime remained relatively stable and closed at 5.16 and 5.21 Pesos (buying and selling price).

• Tuesday, May 7th 2013 - 09:28 UTC

  IMF again warns Argentina about protectionist and foreign currency exchange policies

  

  The International Monetary Fund Director for the Western Hemisphere, Alejandro Werner, warned on Monday about the “negative effect” that the existence of two foreign currency exchange markets and protectionist policies bring to Argentina.

• Tuesday, May 7th 2013 - 08:54 UTC

  Cuban doctors to Brazil hinterland in exchange for infrastructure works

  

  Brazil said Monday it was negotiating with Havana the possibility of hiring and bringing in around 6,000 Cuban doctors to work in areas where they are needed in the fifth largest country of the world and with a population of 200 million.

• Monday, May 6th 2013 - 05:30 UTC

  Ecuador to begin negotiations to join Mercosur, after reaching accord with the EU

  

  Ecuador will notify its intention of beginning negotiation to join Mercosur, while at the same time closing a trade agreement with the European Union. The announcement was made by President Rafael Correa during his regular weekly reports on radio and television.

• Monday, May 6th 2013 - 05:18 UTC

  Bolivia full incorporation to Mercosur now rests on legislative approval from other members

  

  Bolivia has completed the presentation of its Mercosur incorporation protocol, which opens the way for the parliaments of the different member-countries to begin considering and ratifying her full membership. Once completed Bolivia becomes the sixth full member next to Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela.