Mercosur

• Tuesday, January 21st 2014 - 15:24 UTC

  Mujica says Mercosur is 'seriously impaired” and admits resignation in relations with Argentina

  

  Uruguayan president Jose Mujica said that Mercosur is “seriously impaired” but it also has its strong points, and the fact Paraguay resumes full membership is very positive. Mujica was interviewed by a government financed newspaper, La República and again referred to the postponed Mercosur summit and the deteriorated relations with Argentina.

• Friday, January 17th 2014 - 06:22 UTC

  Mercosur summit suspended for the third time: mid February could be next date

  

  Mercosur president’s summit was suspended on Thursday for the third time, due to agenda incompatibilities, Paraguay’s Foreign Minister Eladio Loizaga confirmed in Asunción. Earlier in the day, Loizaga met with Brazilian Foreign minister Luiz Alberto Figuereido. The meeting was going to take place in Caracas, on January 31.

• Tuesday, January 14th 2014 - 07:32 UTC

  Mercosur and EU to exchange tariff reduction proposals in early February

  

  Paraguay's Foreign minister Eladio Loizaga said on Monday that at the latest in early February Mercosur and the European Union would be exchanging their tariff reduction proposals for the much delayed free trade agreement. The deadline originally was December but it was delayed on request from Brussels.

• Monday, January 13th 2014 - 07:35 UTC

  A frustrated Mujica calls for a readjustment of Mercosur legal framework

  

  Uruguayan president José Mujica said that members of Mercosur must readjust the block's legal framework ‘to make it work’ so that differences among its partners can be resolved in an institutional framework. He insisted on a review and amendment of mechanisms with greater flexibility and more adapted to current circumstances.

• Saturday, January 11th 2014 - 08:24 UTC

  Argentina denies it is blame for delay in Mercosur/European Union trade talks

  

  Argentina's Foreign Ministry refuted an article by Brazilian newspaper Valór Económico reporting that negotiations between Mercosur and the European Union had been delayed by the failure to reach agreement with Argentina over a joint proposal of goods to include in a free trade agreement

• Friday, January 10th 2014 - 07:10 UTC

  The delayed Mercosur summit will have to address the EU new foreign aid policy

  

  When Mercosur finally holds its much delayed summit in Venezuela at the end of the month following two postponements (12 December and 17 January), besides its normal agenda of agreements and disagreements, it will have to address a new challenge, this time from the European Union which has redefined its development support policy, leaving all Mercosur members, except Paraguay out of its tariffs and market access benefits.

• Thursday, December 26th 2013 - 07:43 UTC

  Trickle-down economics in one of South America’s poorest countries, Paraguay

  

  The Economist has dedicated an article to the recently inaugurated Paraguayan president Horacio Cartes, and his attempts to improve the living conditions of the majority of a population which is poor in a country rich in agriculture and energy.

• Monday, December 23rd 2013 - 13:27 UTC

  Argentina successfully launches rocket; “program to recover defense capabilities”

  

  Argentina successfully launched a research rocket as part of its space program, the Defense Ministry said on Friday. The launch took place on Wednesday from Chamical, in La Rioja province, 880 km northwest of the capital.

• Saturday, December 21st 2013 - 21:22 UTC

  Uruguay Economy minister resigns over scandal involving flag air carrier Pluna

  

  Uruguay's economy minister Fernando Lorenzo resigned on Saturday in the face of questions over the alleged irregular sale of government-owned airplanes following the closure of Pluna, the country's flag carrier, President Jose Mujica announced at a brief press conference, with no questions taken, next to Vice president Danilo Astori.

• Friday, December 20th 2013 - 06:48 UTC

  Stiglitz says China demand for better diet will keep Mercosur countries busy

  

  The commodities-exporting economies of Latin America will continue expanding in the years ahead, driven by demand from China despite slower growth in its economy, Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz said during a conference round in Uruguay.