
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva rang European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday to congratulate her on sending the Free Trade Agreement between the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) and the European Union (EU) to the European Parliament for a vote.

The European Commission has validated the free trade agreement (FTA) between the European Union (EU) and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), Uruguayan Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin confirmed on Wednesday, calling it “excellent news” for his country.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his Panamanian colleague José Raúl Mulino met in Brasilia to advance the Central American country's accession to the Southern Common Market (Mercosur). In addition, the two leaders instructed their teams to begin negotiations aimed at addressing the existing trade imbalance, as Brazil's exports far outweigh Panama's exports.

Argentina's Ambassador to Asunción, Guillermo Nielsen, announced Wednesday during a meeting with Senate Speaker Basilio Bachi Núñez that President Javier Milei would be visiting the neighboring country on Sept. 15 and 16.

Brazilian authorities, exercising the pro tempore presidency of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), and representatives from Canada are to resume talks about a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that was initiated in 2018 but suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The economic rebound of Argentina, under liberal president Javier Milei, has had a significant impact for Brazil, with auto and industrial machinery exports having increased more than 50% so far this year compared to similar period in 2024, points out O Globo news.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva held a telephone conversation about one hour long Wednesday with his French colleague Emmanuel Macron, during which both leaders pledged to further discuss the Mercosur-European Union Free Trade Agreement to finalize it.

Brazil is donating 20 EE-11 Urutu armored vehicles to the Paraguayan Army to help modernize its military and strengthen regional defense cooperation. The donation will increase Paraguay's fleet of Urutu vehicles from 12 to 32.

Uruguay is in talks with Asunción to improve the flow of Paraguayan barge fleet – the world's third-largest – through the port of Montevideo. In addition, extra berths have been requested at the port of Nueva Palmira.

Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi will travel in October to Rome, Madrid, and Brussels for an official tour that will include meetings with Pope Leo XIV, Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and King Felipe VI.