Mercosur

• Wednesday, February 23rd 2011 - 06:24 UTC

  Ireland flatly opposes beef quotas in current EU/Mercosur trade talks

  

  Beef quotas being sought by the Mercosur countries as part of the ongoing negotiations with the EU were “simply not acceptable”, said Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Brendan Smith.

• Tuesday, February 22nd 2011 - 06:42 UTC

  Argentina has ignored Mercosur rules and is now harvesting the benefits

  

  Even when Uruguay and Brazil are in the course of reaching understandings with Argentina regarding the latest trade restrictions to be implemented by President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner administration, ‘which are not targeted against Mercosur members’, the Brazilian press presents another angle.

• Tuesday, February 22nd 2011 - 06:11 UTC

  Ireland main parties’ leaders pledge to condition any trade deal with Mercosur

  

  Leaders of Ireland’s three main parties pledged on Monday to oppose any trade deal with Mercosur countries which could damage Irish exports if EU standards of production are not adhered to, reports the Irish Times.

• Friday, February 18th 2011 - 23:48 UTC

  Argentina/Brazil agree on monitoring committee to oversee bilateral trade

  

  Argentina and Brazil agreed Friday to set up a Monitoring Committee in order to exclude Brazilian products from being affected by the imports non-automatic licence system announced this week by the administration of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.

• Friday, February 18th 2011 - 16:53 UTC

  “Beginning of the end for Mercosur” warn Uruguayan industrialists

  

  The chairman of the Uruguayan Chamber of Industry, Washington Burghi, warned that Argentina’s decision to restrict imports could be “the beginning of the end” for the Mercosur. However Argentine ambassador in Montevideo said decisions are targeted against Asian imports with the purpose of defending Argentine jobs.

• Friday, February 18th 2011 - 05:23 UTC

  European MPs warn about “a flood of meat imports” from Mercosur

  

  Members from the European Parliament representing rural constituencies have come out strongly against a possible trade deal between Europe and Mercosur arguing that an influx of meat imports could have a devastating impact on the EU beef industry.

• Tuesday, February 15th 2011 - 19:26 UTC

  France warns it wants EU/Mercosur farmers subject to the same “strict” rules

  

  France warned Tuesday that it is following closely European Union/Mercosur trade talks to ensure that farmers from both blocks are strictly subjected to the same rules.

• Monday, February 14th 2011 - 06:19 UTC

  Brazil consolidates defence and military links with Argentina and Uruguay

  

  Brazilian Defence minister Nelson Jobim begins this week a tour of neighbouring Mercosur partners where he is scheduled to sign a statement underlining the strategic relation with Argentina, and further on Uruguay’s interest in military cooperation and equipment.

• Thursday, February 10th 2011 - 22:42 UTC

  “Currencies war”, new challenge for EU/Mercosur trade agreement

  

  The European Union Trade Commissioner Karen De Gucht anticipates a full trade agreement with Mercosur will be reached in a “short time” given the negotiations “unusual” speed but also cautioned about new challenges such as currencies over or under appreciation.

• Tuesday, February 8th 2011 - 01:08 UTC

  EU top official says “this is the moment” for a trade agreement with Mercosur

  

  European Union Trade commissioner Karel de Gutch said Monday he strongly believes the EU will reach a trade agreement with Mercosur because “this is the moment” and both sides are committed to conclude negotiations positively.