Mercosur

• Monday, July 2nd 2012 - 06:11 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez calls on regional unit to neutralize the global crisis

  

  President Cristina Fernández took to her Twitter account to say that “the fundamental goal in the unity of the region must be to make sure that the global crisis has the less kind of possible impact in the development of our nations.”

• Monday, July 2nd 2012 - 06:00 UTC

  OAS fact-finding mission on the Paraguayan situation arrives in Asuncion

  

  The Paraguayan government named a special committee of military, police and diplomatic officials to help avoid possible incidents of violence when the fact-finding delegation from the Organization of American States, arrives in Asuncion.

• Monday, July 2nd 2012 - 01:00 UTC

  “Argentina will be responsible for the end of Mercosur” claims top Brazilian businessman

  

  Brazilian businessman Rubens Barbosa, head of the foreign trade council of the Sao Paolo Federation of businessmen said on Sunday that in the last six months, the Argentine presidency of the bloc implemented measures that practically killed the Mercosur.
  “Argentina will be responsible for the end of Mercosur,” he predicted.

• Monday, July 2nd 2012 - 00:23 UTC

  Former Mercosur top official blasts lack of political support and coordination

  

  Mercosur high representative Samuel Pinheiro Guimaraes resigned because of “political reasons”, following the presentation of a report warning on the future of the regional block in the framework of the international crisis.

• Monday, July 2nd 2012 - 00:16 UTC

  Paraguay considers consulting the people whether “to continue or not in Mercosur”

  

  Paraguay’s government blasted Mercosur decision of incorporating Venezuela as a full member of the bloc “before finishing the legislative procedure to do so” and did not discard the possibility of having the Paraguayan people “decide whether to remain or not in Mercosur”.

• Saturday, June 30th 2012 - 05:39 UTC

  Mercosur doubles list of goods that can have tariffs raised unilaterally 35% by each member

  

  Mercosur rejected an Argentine proposal to raise imports tariffs on all goods from outer zone to protect local industries, but accepted Brazil’s initiative to raise tariffs unilaterally on 200 goods, up from 100 agreed last December.

• Saturday, June 30th 2012 - 05:05 UTC

  Mercosur agrees info exchange on hydrocarbons naval traffic to the Falklands

  

  Mercosur agreed at the Mendoza summit to exchange information on ships and other “naval artefacts” involved in hydrocarbons activities with routes that include the Falklands/Malvinas Islands over which Argentina claims sovereignty.

• Saturday, June 30th 2012 - 03:52 UTC

  Mercosur ‘suspended’ Paraguay feels free to establish trade links with other countries

  

  President Federico Franco announced in a press conference that if Paraguay is suspended from Mercosur the country will feel free to look for other trade agreements and international relations.

• Saturday, June 30th 2012 - 03:43 UTC

  Mercosur Secretary General resigns and walks out from the Mendoza summit

  

  Mercosur Secretary General Samuel Pinheiro Guimaraes resigned to his post in the midst of the Mendoza summit following a strong exchange with the group of Foreign Ministers, indicated reports from Buenos Aires.

• Saturday, June 30th 2012 - 00:46 UTC

  Mercosur announced admission of Venezuela as a full member end of July

  

  Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay made official on Friday the temporary suspension of Paraguay from Mercosur, because of the ‘summary’ removal of President Fernando Lugo and at the same time announced Venezuela will be incorporated to the group on July 31 at a meeting in Rio do Janeiro.