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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, May 23rd 2025 - 20:07 UTC

Mercosur

  • Friday, December 6th 2024 - 23:07 UTC

    Mercosur-EU FTA signed at last

    “Mercosur will bring significant benefits to consumers and businesses on both sides,” Von der Leyen said

    The South American Common Market (Mercosur) and the European Union announced Friday in Montevideo the final signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between both blocs, thus creating the largest and most populated commerce zone worldwide. The understanding was reached after 25 years of negotiations and despite France's reluctance.

  • Friday, December 6th 2024 - 19:35 UTC

    Milei takes over Mercosur's rotating presidency

    Lula stayed away from the traditional family picture as payback for Milei's similar attitude during the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro last month

    In one of the last significant moments of his five-year term ending Feb. 28, Uruguay's President Luis Lacalle Pou handed over the rotating chair of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) to his Argentine colleague Javier Milei as the bloc's 65th Leader's Summit concluded in Montevideo.

  • Friday, December 6th 2024 - 11:11 UTC

    Mercosur Summit: Lula decorates Mujica too

    “Of all the presidents I have met, he is the most extraordinary person,” said Lula at Mujica's residence. Photo: Dante Fernandez / AFP

    Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Thursday decorated former Uruguayan President José Pepe Mujica (2010-2015) with the National Order of the Southern Cross on the sidelines of the two-day Mercosur Summit in Montevideo, Agencia Brasil reported. Mujica, 89, had been granted a similar accolade earlier Thursday by Colombian President Gustavo Petro.

  • Friday, December 6th 2024 - 10:55 UTC

    Mercosur-EU FTA ratification imminent

    The imminent announcement is expected to happen during a press conference on Friday morning

    Momentum is building up in Montevideo as the presence of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen seems to herald the imminent signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) as Brussels needs to halt China's commercial expansion in the region while Donald Trump's return to the White House looms over.

  • Thursday, December 5th 2024 - 20:38 UTC

    Petro decorates Mujica with Colombia's highest distinction

    Both former guerrilla fighters highlighted how much they have in common

    Colombian President Gustavo Petro Thursday decorated Uruguay's former head of State José Pepe Mujica with the Order of Boyacá for his commitment to regional peace. The ceremony was held at Mujica's residence in Rincón del Cerro, on the outskirts of the country's capital, where the 89-year-old leftwing leader welcomed a group of his supporters.

  • Thursday, December 5th 2024 - 10:55 UTC

    Mercosur-EU deal at stake at Montevideo Summit starting Thursday

    Von der Leyen's presence is interpreted as a will on the part of most EU members to conclude the FTA

    The Southern Common Market (Mercosur) hopes to clinch the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) during the two-day regional bloc's Summit starting Thursday in Montevideo with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as the main guest.

  • Wednesday, December 4th 2024 - 09:54 UTC

    Uruguayans do their shopping in Brazil to capitalize on surging US dollar

    Things are usually less expensive on the Brazilian side but the gap has gone wider after recent devaluations of the real

    Uruguayan retailers in cities bordering Brazil have expressed concern after residents increased their tendency to shop abroad in the face of the recent rise in the US dollar. Meanwhile, duty-free shops are looking for strategies to cushion the drop in sales to the Brazilian public, amid fears of a surge in smuggling.

  • Tuesday, December 3rd 2024 - 10:55 UTC

    Paris’ obsession against a deal with Mercosur: shortcomings of French agribusiness

    French agribusiness has struggled to maintain competitiveness, not only against producers outside the EU but also within the bloc, particularly Poland and Romania.

    Why is France so committed to avoid making viable the European Union/Mercosur trade and cooperation agreement? Interest group in France argue that domestic agribusiness has been undergoing profound structural changes over the past few decades, among which declining productivity, rising costs, and a waning interest among younger generations in pursuing agricultural work.

  • Tuesday, December 3rd 2024 - 10:33 UTC

    What will the Mercosur summit discuss?

    As Uruguay prepares to hand over Mercosur’s pro tempore presidency to Argentina, this summit could define the bloc’s path forward amid global trade uncertainties

    Montevideo will host the XLV Mercosur Summit on 5-6 December, bringing together South American leaders to discuss pressing regional issues. Outgoing Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou will chair the meeting, along with Argentina's Javier Milei, Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Paraguay's Santiago Peña. Uruguay's President-elect Yamandú Orsi will also attend.

  • Monday, December 2nd 2024 - 10:12 UTC

    Milei pushes for trade flexibility at Mercosur Summit, eyes U.S. agreement

    Milei’s push for individual trade autonomy aligns with Lacalle Pou’s vision

    Argentine President Javier Milei will attend the Mercosur summit in Montevideo on December 5-6, advocating for the bloc’s members to gain the freedom to sign independent trade agreements. This marks a departure from Mercosur’s traditional collective bargaining stance but stops short of proposing an exit from the bloc.