Mercosur

• Wednesday, December 8th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  US-Colombia controversy with “Chess Master”

  Colombia and the United States government have been forced into a controversy regarding the conditions on which a notorious Colombian drug lord was extradited to Miami to face trial.

• Wednesday, December 8th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Chavez signs controversial press law

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez signed Wednesday the controversial “Radio and Television Social Responsibility Act” which he described as a “libertarian” landmark and the opposition condemned it as “gag rule.”

• Wednesday, December 8th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Pascal Lamy, EU candidate for head of WTO

  The European Commission decided Tuesday to formalize the candidacy of former EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy as the future head of the World Trade Organization, WTO.

• Wednesday, December 8th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  EU/Mercosur contacts “have been re-established”

  European Union-Mercosur trade talks will continue stagnant until next March when a ministerial meeting is scheduled. Negotiators from both sides were unable last week to agree on a calendar of talks and will be meeting again at the beginning of 2005 to arrange the ministerial summit.

• Wednesday, December 8th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Bright economic outlook for Latinamerica

  Inter-American Development Bank, IDB, CEO Enrique Iglesias said in Miami that the area will end 2004 with a far higher economic performance than “we expected at the beginning of the year” mainly because of sustainable economic policies and China's appetite for commodities.

• Wednesday, December 8th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Tariff differences between Chile and Andean Community

  Chile's insertion in the Community of Andean Nations, CAN (Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela) is “rather complicated” because Chile's external tariffs are far lower than the rest of those countries, said Chilean president Ricardo Lagos.

• Tuesday, December 7th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Fisheries News.

  Headlines:
  South Africa cracks down on quota fraud; Dramatic drop in stocks forces fisheries bill review; EU Court blasts Spain for exceeding fishing quotas.

• Tuesday, December 7th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Growing activity and competition in Punta Arenas.

  The growing commercial activity of Punta Arenas with significant investments and a notorious increase in competition was highlighted by La Prensa Austral last weekend.

• Tuesday, December 7th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Promising 2005 for meat exporting countries.

  The world's main suppliers of meat (beef, hog, broilers and turkeys) will reach a record 16,7 million tons next year, a 5,4% increase over 2004, according to a report from the United States Agriculture Department.

• Tuesday, December 7th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

  Brazilian industry forecasted to expand 7,5%.

  The president of one of Brazil's most important industry organization forecasted industry would grow 7,5% this year given the overall strong recovery of the economy and the rather low comparison base.