Mercosur

• Tuesday, February 7th 2012 - 06:15 UTC

  Argentina/Brazil admit ‘good understanding’ in round of trade talks to lift restrictions

  

  The meeting between Argentine and Brazilian officials to discuss the new trade legislation implemented by the government of President Cristina Fernandez ended in a “good understanding”, said participants of the Monday meeting.

• Monday, February 6th 2012 - 07:16 UTC

  Uruguayan president downplays the impact of Argentine imports’ restrictions

  

  The new trade barriers enforced by the Argentine government are “insignificant, nothing to worry about,” Uruguayan president José Mujíca said to a Montevideo newspaper insisting that the best path is ‘dialogue’ dismounting each obstacle ‘step by step’.

• Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 23:04 UTC

  Brazil follows Argentina: sets up a special unit to monitor and control imports

  

  Following on Argentina’s track the Brazilian government created a special unit to monitor and control imports in the framework of the country’s new trade policy implemented by the administration of President Dilma Rousseff.

• Thursday, February 2nd 2012 - 05:47 UTC

  Brazil will evaluate the impact and legality of Argentina’s latest trade barriers

  

  The Brazilian government expressed concerns over the new Argentine trade barriers going in effect on Wednesday and informed that it would “evaluate its impact and legality” before making any decisions, Foreign Trade secretary Tatiana Prazeres announced.

• Wednesday, February 1st 2012 - 16:08 UTC

  Argentina new imports’ restrictions come into effect; claims from Mercosur

  

  Argentina’s controversial new import restrictions came into effect on Wednesday as part of the legislation on the trading sector which gives the government bureaucracy more powers to control and restrict imports.

• Wednesday, February 1st 2012 - 07:48 UTC

  Paraguayan beef exports forecasted to plummet 30% because of FMD outbreaks

  

  The value of Paraguayan beef exports could drop 30% in 2012 compared to the previous year given the loss of markets following two outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease, FMD, points out the country’ Centre for Analysis of the Paraguayan Economy, CADEP.

• 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.