Mercosur

• Tuesday, January 31st 2012 - 05:32 UTC

  Uruguay industry accuses Argentina of systematically blocking exports

  

  The Uruguayan industrial sector warned that certain members of the Mercosur “are failing to fulfil their obligations” and targeted Argentina directly by pointing out that the new trade regulations set by the local Government “are hurting production” in the neighbouring country.

• Tuesday, January 31st 2012 - 05:04 UTC

  Shallow canals and low water levels obstruct Argentina’s main grains terminal

  

  The grounding of two bulk carriers one in the Parana River and a second in the Martin Garcia access canal are evidence of the frail fluvial communications system between the River Plate and the Atlantic, reports the press from the port of Rosario, Argentina’s second largest city and among the world’s main grain export terminals.

• Monday, January 30th 2012 - 07:14 UTC

  Mercosur is stalled: nobody comes knocking on the door, says Mujica

  

  Uruguay's President José Mujica said that Mercosur bloc is “stalled” and has no natural institutional operation to push other countries to express their willingness to enter it plus lacking the fluidity of a natural relationship.

• Friday, January 27th 2012 - 11:05 UTC

  Moody’s raises Uruguay’s credit rating to Ba1, one level below investment grade

  

  Uruguay’s credit-rating outlook was raised on Thursday to positive by Moody’s Investors Service, which cited the government’s commitment to keeping its budget deficit in check.

• Friday, January 20th 2012 - 16:28 UTC

  Brazil plans to counter Argentina’s latest imports’ measures, if they affect trade

  

  Brazil has plans to counter the latest battery of trade restrictions which Argentina announced, if they turn out to the barriers for Brazilian exports, reported the influential Folha de Sao Paulo.

• Friday, January 20th 2012 - 08:19 UTC

  Falklands vessels can re-flag and operate in Mercosur ports, says Hague

  

  Ships from the Falkland Islands that are barred from ports in Argentina and other Mercosur trade bloc countries can re-flag as British ships at any time to avoid the ban, British Foreign Secretary William Hague told reporters in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday.

• Thursday, January 19th 2012 - 06:03 UTC

  “To all effects” Venezuela is fully integrated to Mercosur, says Uruguay

  

  “In practical terms Venezuela if fully integrated to Mercosur” said Uruguayan Foreign Affairs minister Luis Almagro during a meeting this week with foreign correspondents.

• Thursday, January 19th 2012 - 06:00 UTC

  Trade balance with Argentina is ‘definitively positive’ says Uruguayan minister

  

  Uruguayan Foreign Minister Luis Almagro said that the trade balance between Uruguay and Argentina is “definitely positive” although admitting some manufacturing sectors face difficulties because of the current Argentine obstructions to imports.

• Wednesday, January 18th 2012 - 17:02 UTC

  Argentina prepares list of capital goods subject to higher import tariffs

  

  The Argentine government has began a round of consultations with the manufacturing sector to determine which capital goods from non Mercosur members can be listed for a higher common external tariff as was recently agreed by the trade block.

• Saturday, January 14th 2012 - 06:16 UTC

  Bolivia ratifies complete support for Argentina’s Malvinas sovereignty claim

  

  Bolivian president Evo Morales said the Malvinas Islands are Argentine and gave full support to his peer Cristina Fernandez siding with Mercosur in the dispute with the UK over the South Atlantic Islands sovereignty and the latest decision to bar all Falklands flagged vessels from regional ports.