Mercosur

• 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.

• Wednesday, December 13th 2017 - 08:03 UTC

  Mercosur/EU ever so close but the accord has yet to be grasped, maybe 2018

  

  The talks between the European Union and Mercosur will likely extend into next year after European negotiators said they needed more time to respond to improved offers, a source from Mercosur negotiators said on Tuesday.

• Tuesday, December 12th 2017 - 10:34 UTC

  Mercosur/EU hurdles remain, and a deal announcement might not be reached this week

  

  Free-trade talks between the European Union and Mercosur still face hurdles over beef and ethanol, and an expected deal announcement this week might not happen, officials involved in negotiations admitted on Monday. Mercosur diplomats on the sidelines of the World Trade Organization ministerial meeting in Buenos Aires said EU officials had not presented improved offers on EU tariff-free imports for beef and ethanol as promised.

• Tuesday, December 12th 2017 - 09:02 UTC

  Irish and French argue “a win for Mercosur in agriculture is a loss for EU farmers”

  

  Irish MEP and vice-president of the European Parliament Mairead McGuinness is representing the European Parliament at the ministerial assembly on the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Argentina, which began on Sunday, and has warned that rushing towards a Mercosur/European Union deal would jeopardize the EU beef industry.