Mercosur

• Wednesday, June 8th 2011 - 16:36 UTC

  Uruguay considers China a ‘strategic partner’ and supports a Beijing-Mercosur trade accord

  

  Uruguay sees China as a ‘strategic partner’ and has kept good relations with Beijing since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1988, said Uruguayan Foreign Affairs minister Luis Almagro, a former ambassador to China from 2007-2009. Almagro made the statement as Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping begun his official visit to Uruguay.

• Wednesday, June 8th 2011 - 03:14 UTC

  “A Lula da Silva man steps down; a Dilma woman moves in”

  

  Brazilian Senator Gleisi Helena Hoffmann, 45, wife of Communications Minister Paulo Bernardo has been chosen by President Dilma Rousseff to replace outcast Antonio Palocci as chief of staff.

• Tuesday, June 7th 2011 - 01:25 UTC

  Brazil government celebrates Humala’s victory; invites president-elect to Brasilia

  

  Brazil’s presidential foreign affairs advisor Marco Aurelio Garcia celebrated the victory of nationalist Peruvian president elect Ollanta Humala who beat Keiko Fujimori in the Sunday run off by a minimum difference.

• Saturday, June 4th 2011 - 02:40 UTC

  Hard times, even closure for some Uruguayan abattoirs, anticipated Mujica

  

  Uruguayan president Jose Mujica warned that several abattoirs will run into deep trouble and might have to close down because of the lack of livestock ready for slaughtering. He also cautioned that “there is not much more the Executive can do”.

• Tuesday, May 31st 2011 - 22:57 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez plans to launch re-election bid June 23, says close associate

  

  Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner may announce her bid to run for re-election at a rally on June 23, according to ruling-party lawmaker and close associate of the head of state, Carlos Kunkel.

• Tuesday, May 31st 2011 - 22:55 UTC

  Mercosur and EU admit internal problems are delaying trade negotiations

  

  The European Union and Mercosur admit they have internal problems that are delaying discussions, and results, for a broad association and cooperation accord that contemplates a trade agreement questioned by strong interests from both sides.

• Tuesday, May 31st 2011 - 22:47 UTC

  Brazil and Paraguay with record crops of soy beans and export volumes

  

  Mercosur members Brazil and Paraguay harvested unprecedented soy crops this year while Argentina’s results are disappointing limiting its exports, according to the latest report form Hamburg based Oil World.

• Tuesday, May 31st 2011 - 22:46 UTC

  Brazil approves system to elect representatives for Mercosur parliament

  

  The Brazilian congress passed the rules for the election by political parties of Mercosur parliament representatives, which beginning 2014 are to be chosen by popular vote.

• Saturday, May 28th 2011 - 08:02 UTC

  Mercosur tourism ministers address ‘border crossings” and overseas promotion

  

  Mercosur tourism ministers agreed to facilitate border crossings for citizens from country members and to draft a homogeneous system for keeping the industry’s statistics, during their XI meeting held in Asuncion, Paraguay.

• Friday, May 27th 2011 - 22:42 UTC

  Brazil/Argentina relations not contaminated by trade spat, in spite of industry worries

  

  Robert da Fonseca, director of the Sao Paolo Industry Federation, FIESP admitted on Friday that Brazilian businessmen are “worried” with the commercial conflict that Argentina and Brazil face.