Mercosur

• Tuesday, March 25th 2025 - 10:15 UTC

  Lula arrives in Japan to celebrate 130 years of diplomatic ties

  

  Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and First Lady Janja were welcomed by Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako on Tuesday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, marking the start of the South American leader's state visit to celebrate 130 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Brazil arguably hosts the largest Japanese-descendant population outside Japan with around 2 million people, while Japan is home to the fifth largest Brazilian community abroad, with around 200,000 people.

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• Thursday, March 6th 2025 - 10:59 UTC

  Uruguay wants to become an “actor of peace”

  

  Uruguayan Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin had on Wednesday his first formal day in office on Wednesday. During a ceremony in Montevideo attended by President Yamandú Orsi and Vice President Carolina Cosse, the South American country's top diplomat emphasized Uruguay's role as an “actor of peace” to help reduce global tensions.

• Monday, March 3rd 2025 - 10:55 UTC

  Milei does not rule out leaving Mercosur

  

  Argentine President Javier Milei further elaborated on his plan to curb inflation during his opening speech Saturday before the Legislative Assembly when opening the 202t5t Legislature. Among other items, he spoke of a new agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) plus the reorganization of the Central Bank (BCRA) accounts.

• Monday, March 3rd 2025 - 10:45 UTC

  Orsi and Steinmeier underscore Mercosur-EU deal

  

  Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi held a one-on-one talk with his German colleague Frank-Walter Steinmeier, at the Estévez Palace in Montevideo. Both leaders agreed on the importance of ratifying the trade agreement between the South American Common Market (Mercosur) and the European Union (EU).

• Wednesday, February 26th 2025 - 09:37 UTC

  Export of live animals do not violate Brazilian law, federal court ruling

  

  A Brazilian Federal Court has ruled that the export of live animals for slaughter does not violate Brazilian law. The unanimous decision of the Federal Court overturned a lower court ruling that had suspended the activity at all Brazilian ports.

• Thursday, February 13th 2025 - 10:18 UTC

  Paraná-Paraguay Waterway concession tender canceled amid foul play allegations

  

  The Argentine Government of President Javier Milei Wednesday declared the tender for the Paraná-Paraguay Waterway - which handles 80% of the country's exports and is also vital for Paraguay - concession void and launched an investigation into the only bidders: Dredging Environmental and Marine Engineering (DEME) for allegedly pressuring other potential bidders not to participate. The National Commission for the Defense of Competition will look into possible anti-competitive practices or an illicit association, it was explained.

• Wednesday, February 12th 2025 - 14:34 UTC

  Argentina: Irregularities detected in key waterway concession process

  

  Argentina's Administrative Investigations Prosecutor’s Office (PIA) has identified “serious irregularities” in the bidding process for the concession of the Paraná-Paraguay waterway, a crucial trade corridor for the region. The waterway is essential for exporting agricultural products from Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay to the Atlantic.

• Friday, February 7th 2025 - 07:13 UTC

  Brazil needs to purchase 3,5 million tons of wheat, despite higher yields in domestic production, says CEPEA

  

  Wheat production 2024/2025 in Brazil fell by 2.6% compared to the previous year, with the National Supply Company (Conab) forecasting a harvest of 7.89 million tons in 2024. This also represents an 11.9% reduction in the cultivated area, which shrank to 3.06 million hectares.

• Friday, January 31st 2025 - 09:24 UTC

  Swiss minister tells Peña her country interested in dealing with Mercosur

  

  Switzerland's Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Helen Budlinger told Paraguayan President Santiago Peña that her country was interested in expanding businesses with Asunción and with all of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur). She made those remarks Thursday as she welcomed Peña to the non-European Union nation which thus covets a separate Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

• Wednesday, January 22nd 2025 - 21:13 UTC

  Milei would have no qualms breaking up with Mercosur if need be for FTA with US

  

  Argentine President Javier Milei said in an interview with Bloomberg in Davos (Switzerland) that if breaking up with the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) was a requirement to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States, he would not hesitate to do it.