Mercosur

• Saturday, December 23rd 2017 - 09:35 UTC

  Chile calls for closer links between Mercosur and the Pacific Alliance

  

  Chilean Foreign Affairs Minister Heraldo Munoz called for closer ties between Latin America's two leading trade blocs. Mercosur and the Pacific Alliance should work more closely together, Munoz told the 51st Mercosur and associate members summit held this week in Brasilia.

• Friday, December 22nd 2017 - 11:02 UTC

  Macri sends message to the Venezuelan people and demands respect for human rights

  

  Argentine president Mauricio Macri in Brasilia expressed full solidarity with the Venezuelan people, called for human rights respect and freedom for the political prisoners held by the regime of president Nicolas Maduro.

• Friday, December 22nd 2017 - 10:58 UTC

  “Mercosur, the most isolated and protectionist block in the world”

  

  Mercosur is the most isolated and protectionist block in the world, said Argentine president Mauricio Macri on Thursday during a meeting with Argentine media, in Brasilia, in the framework of the current presidential summit during which the six-month rotating chair of the group will passed from Brazil to Paraguay.

• Friday, December 22nd 2017 - 10:46 UTC

  Mercosur divided on Jerusalem vote: Argentina and Paraguay abstained; Brazil and Uruguay supported

  

  A resolution backed overwhelmingly by the United Nations has effectively called on the US to withdraw its recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The vote in support of the resolution was 128, nine against and 35 abstentions. The South American Mercosur block, currently holding a summit in Brasilia, voted divided, while Brazil and Uruguay supported the resolution, Argentina and Paraguay abstained.

• Thursday, December 21st 2017 - 11:26 UTC

  Egypt attends Mercosur summit in Brasilia

  

  Egypt is attending the ministerial meeting of the Mercosur bloc in Brasilia to deliver a message about the importance of joining the group, Minister of Industry and Foreign Trade Tarek Kabil said in a statement.

• Thursday, December 21st 2017 - 11:12 UTC

  EU stands firmly on its beef offer to Mercosur: 70.000 tons

  

  The European Union's offer on beef in Mercosur trade negotiations has not been revised according to the EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan, who said a deal may happen in February. Speaking to journalists in Brussels on Wednesday, EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan said that the EU's offer on beef access for Mercosur countries has not been revised since December 5.

• Wednesday, December 20th 2017 - 10:22 UTC

  CMA-CGM take over Mercosul Line from Maersk Line

  

  The transfer of ownership of Mercosul Line from Maersk Line to CMA CGM. (Maritime Freighting Company-General Maritime Company), was completed on Friday. Mercosul is a leading player in Brazil's domestic container shipping market, with a fleet of four container vessels and around 290 people employed.

• Friday, December 15th 2017 - 14:53 UTC

  Brazilian beef exporters expect a record year in 2018: 1.68 million tons

  

  Brazilian beef exporters expect shipments to grow 10% in 2018 after rising an estimated 9% this year despite corruption and food safety scandals that temporarily closed off major markets. Trade group Abiec on Thursday said Brazil, the world’s largest beef exporter, would likely sell 1.68 million tons of beef abroad next year, up from 1.53 million tons in 2017. Revenue is expected to rise about 11% to US$6.9 billion in 2018, after a 13% rise this year to US$6.2 billion.

• Friday, December 15th 2017 - 01:40 UTC

  Brazilian police raids offices and homes of two members of Congress

  

  Brazilian police raided the offices and homes of two members of Congress on Wednesday in the country’s latest corruption probe as the government makes a last-ditch effort to vote on an overhaul of the national pension system.

• Thursday, December 14th 2017 - 05:53 UTC

  Mercosur/EU accord will have to wait until 2018; Europe needs more time to assess latest proposal

  

  Negotiations for a trade deal between the European Union and Mercosur will extend into next year, officials from both sides said on Wednesday, after the Europeans asked for more time to analyze proposed changes.