Mercosur

• Friday, June 24th 2011 - 19:08 UTC

  Argentina’s trade surplus in May rose 29%; imports soared 39%

  

  Argentina's trade surplus in May rose 29% from the previous month, thanks to high prices for the country's exports of grains and manufactured goods, the national statistics agency said Thursday.

• Friday, June 24th 2011 - 02:17 UTC

  To contain inflation Uruguay raises benchmark rate 50 points to 8%

  

  As anticipated, Uruguay's central bank raised its benchmark lending rate 50 basis points to 8% on Thursday in an effort to keep inflation within its target range. Uruguay’s consumer price index rose 8.53% in the 12 months through May, far above the official target range of between 4% and 6% set for the 12 months ending June 2012.

• Thursday, June 23rd 2011 - 22:28 UTC

  Paraguay’s economy expands 4.6% in first quarter; down 0.7% from previous quarter

  

  Mercosur full member Paraguay’s economy expanded 4.6% in the first quarter of 2011 compared to a year ago boosted by agriculture in spite of a slowdown in cattle farming and construction, according to the country’s Central bank latest report.

• Thursday, June 23rd 2011 - 21:31 UTC

  Brazilian president ‘votes’ for Cristina Fernandez and anticipates re-election

  

  Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff said she is convinced of her Argentine peer Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner re-election victory next October 23. Argentina is Brazil’s main associate in Mercosur and third trade partner.

• Tuesday, June 14th 2011 - 22:39 UTC

  Humala reaffirms historic links: “Peru will always support Argentina”

  

  President-elect Ollanta Humala said Peru has shown “it will always support Argentina” and underlined the long standing close relations with the country that hosts one of the largest Peruvian communities overseas.

• Tuesday, June 14th 2011 - 21:07 UTC

  Volcanic ash cloud forces the re-programming of Mercosur technical meeting

  

  The 83rd ordinary meeting of the Common Market Group in the framework of Mercosur and which was scheduled for this week has been re-programmed for June 16 and 17, because of the volcanic ash cloud that has disrupted normal air traffic.

• Tuesday, June 14th 2011 - 20:47 UTC

  EU/Mercosur trade talks are frozen on the “edge of the cliff”

  

  Trade talks between Mercosur and the European Union have been frozen on the “edge of the cliff” because of the European debt crisis, differences over agriculture subsidies and other crucial issues according to sources in Brazil from both sides.

• Tuesday, June 14th 2011 - 02:48 UTC

  Peru’s Humala interested in joining “political” mechanisms of Mercosur

  

  Peru is interested in regional integration, security, education, combating narcotics but full membership of Mercosur is “distant” said president elect Ollanta Humala during a one day visit to Uruguay, before leaving late Monday for Argentina.

• Saturday, June 11th 2011 - 11:27 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez presidential bid “is headed towards a predictable scenario”

  

  The candidacy of Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner “is headed towards a predictable scenario” assured Buenos Aires province Governor Daniel Scioli in an interview he granted to Ambito Financiero's new TV show, “Ambito de debate”.

• Friday, June 10th 2011 - 02:50 UTC

  Paraguayan Senate approves Unasur charter; new Venezuela Mercosur bid

  

  The Paraguayan Senate approved the Unasur, Union of South American Nations charter and treaty which were signed by the Executive in May 2008. The next step is in the Lower House which will then formalize Paraguay’s full membership of the group.