Mercosur

• Friday, January 25th 2019 - 09:29 UTC

  Brazil eliminates Mercosur symbol from new passports

  

  Brazilian new passports will no longer have the symbol of Mercosur as currently they do together with those from the other member states, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. The announcement was made by cabinet chief Onyx Lorenzoni, during a press conference in which he anticipated the targets for the first hundred days of president Jair Bolsonaro's administration.

• Saturday, January 19th 2019 - 09:22 UTC

  Extreme wet January displaces thousands and floods farmland in Mercosur member countries

  

  Intense rainfall in northeast Argentina and neighbouring areas in Mercosur members has caused devastating floods, amplifying the economic burdens of Argentina's recession. Over 5,000 people have evacuated the region, and millions of hectares of crops have been sent underwater.

• Thursday, January 17th 2019 - 07:42 UTC

  Bolsonaro and Macri agree to “review and perfect” Mercosur, and advance trade talks with EU

  

  Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro and Argentina’s president Mauricio Macri said they agreed to continue integrating their economies (number one and two in South America), as strategic partners, by “perfecting” the Mercosur trade block and pressing ahead with negotiations that are already underway, such as the ongoing free trade and cooperation agreement with the European Union.

• Saturday, December 29th 2018 - 21:12 UTC

  Argentina appoints an auditor/administrator at INIDEP to “normalize activities”

  

  Argentina has appointed an auditor/administrator for the National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP), former R/Admiral Marcelo Lobbosco, who was head of Buenos Aires province ports. During his 180-day term (with a possible extension of another 180 days), and according to Decree 1127, Lobbosco must try to overcome the staff disputes which have impeded the normal activity of research cruises.

• Friday, December 28th 2018 - 08:44 UTC

  Pakistan to resume negotiations with Mercosur for a free trade agreement

  

  Pakistan has officially requested to resume negotiations with Mercosur for a free trade agreement, with discussions expected to begin in early 2019. Islamabad believes it is an opportunity to bridge the trade deficit with countries of the South American bloc.

• Wednesday, December 19th 2018 - 14:30 UTC

  Macri urges Mercosur to take action against “Venezuelan dictatorship”

  

  Argentine President Mauricio Macri Tuesday launched an appeal in Montevideo to find solutions to the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela and called for the “return of democracy” in that country. He delivered that speech during the Mercosur summit where he is to take up the bloc's rotating presidency from host Tabaré Vázquez.

• Tuesday, December 18th 2018 - 19:43 UTC

  Mercosur leaders agreed on need for reforms in the midst of Bolsonaro's threat to leave

  

  The presidents of all Mercosur member and associate countries gathered Tuesday in Montevideo for a summit to redefine the bloc's future, in light of recent statements from Brazil's future government that the region will not be among the priorities of Jair Bolsonaro when he becomes president on January 1.

• Monday, December 17th 2018 - 07:40 UTC

  Brazil refutes Merkel's comments on Mercosur and Bolsonaro

  

  Brazil’s outgoing Agriculture Minister Blairo Maggi said that Mercosur is ready to close a trade agreement with the European Union but it is being held up because the Europeans do not want to close a deal.

• Monday, December 10th 2018 - 06:43 UTC

  Mercosur and EU start a technical talks round in Montevideo, waiting for Bolsonaro

  

  Mercosur and the European Union will be holding a round of technical talks this week in Montevideo, starting on Monday, with the purpose of building a strong consensus that could anticipate an agreement sometime next year.

• Saturday, December 1st 2018 - 08:47 UTC

  Bolsonaro recommends “prudence” before signing any Mercosur/EU agreement

  

  Brazil's president-elect Jair Bolsonaro said “prudence” was necessary before signing any trade agreement with other nations, in reference to the ongoing negotiations between Mercosur and the European Union.