Mercosur

• Friday, November 25th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Brazil closer to oil self sufficiency

  Brazil moved closer to oil self-sufficiency this week when President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva christened Brazil's largest offshore rig at a shipyard in Rio de Janeiro.

• Friday, November 25th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile/India partial trade agreement

  In just five rounds and record time Chile and India concluded negotiations for a Partial Trade Agreement which contemplates reciprocal access of several hundred products with considerable tariff reductions and leaves for the future other controversial sectors such as investments and services.

• Friday, November 25th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Pope calls rich nations to overcome “narrow self interest”

  Pope Benedict XVI called Thursday for a sense of responsibility and solidarity with the world's poor to prevail at world trade talks in Hong Kong next month, saying the interests of the wealthy should be put aside.

• Friday, November 25th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Remove FTAA talks from the “ideological field”

  Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said that discussions for a Free Trade Areas of the Americas, FTAA, must be removed from the “ideological field” and ratified his interest in addressing the more sensitive issues in the framework of the World Trade Organization, WTO.

• Friday, November 25th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Chilean fishing industry protests FTA with China

  The Chilean fishing industry is unsatisfied with the tariff reduction timetable contemplated in the recently signed free trade agreement with China and is demanding a total ports ban for Chinese vessels operating in the area next to its 200 miles EEZ.

• Thursday, November 24th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Bolivia accuses Venezuela of “interference in home affairs”

  Bolivia summoned a Venezuelan diplomat for having made statements against former leader and presidential candidate Jorge Quiroga which were considered as ”interference with (Bolivian) domestic affairs”, according to an official release Wednesday in La Paz.

• Thursday, November 24th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentine Army tank assembly plant in Comodoro

  The Argentine Army presented Wednesday the first prototype of a locally assembled tank, “Patagon”, which is considered the first step towards creating a national defense procurement industry.

• Thursday, November 24th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  US/Andean countries free trade talks postponed

  Peru failed to conclude a free trade agreement with the United States and decided Wednesday to take a break in negotiations, as had happened with its Andean partners, Colombia and Ecuador, the day before

• Thursday, November 24th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Lula confirms tight budget policy and minister Palocci

  Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva ratified Wednesday the country's “successful” economic policy emphasizing that Finance Minister Antonio Palocci plays a crucial role in its achievement and brushed aside proposals for a laxer fiscal policy to promote growth.

• Thursday, November 24th 2005 - 20:00 UTC

  Latinamerican regional trade forecasted in 74 billion US dollars

  Trade among the Latinamerican Integration Association (ALADI) members is forecasted t reach 74 billion US dollars this year, 24% higher that in 2004.