Mercosur

• Wednesday, May 26th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Record unemployment in Brazil

  Unemployment in Brazil during April reached a record 13,1%, the highest since the index was started in October 2001, reports the Brazilian Geography and Statistics Office, IBGE. Unemployment in March was 12,8%.

• Wednesday, May 26th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil admits higher inflation

  The Brazilian government admitted this week that inflation in 2004 will be above the 2004 target of 5,5% According to the latest estimates from the Finance Ministry, the Consumer Price Index will reach 6,37% this year.

• Tuesday, May 25th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil and China “strategic alliance”

  Brazil and China emphasized this Monday in Beijing their commitment to a bilateral “strategic alliance”, called for “a more democratic and representative global system” and signed ten agreements covering trade and cooperation in different fields.

• Tuesday, May 25th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Magallanes fish exports stalled

  The stoppage declared since last Wednesday by staff from the Chilean Fisheries National Service, Sernapesca, is complicating and delaying fisheries exports from Magallanes Region, according to Punta Arenas companies and unions.

• Tuesday, May 25th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile's import tariff averages 2,4%

  The tariff reductions agreed by Chile in the several trade accords reached with United States, European Union among others, is forcing the average effective import tariff to continue decreasing, having reached 2,4% last March

• Monday, May 24th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Magallanes exports increase 18%

  In spite of suffering a 1% economic contraction in the first quarter of this year, compared to the same period in 2003, Magallanes Region exports jumped 18%, according to the latest release by the Regional Chilean Finance Ministry Representative and the National Statistics Office.

• Monday, May 24th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Fuel smuggling from Argentina

  Magallanes energy distributors are warning local authorities of an incipient but growing contraband of fuel from neighbouring Argentine Patagonia where gasoline costs half the price.

• Monday, May 24th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  160,000 Chileans reside in Argentina

  Just over 200,000 Chileans actually reside in Central and South America according to the latest poll of registered Chileans overseas taken by the Foreign Affairs Ministry in collaboration with the National Statistics Office.

• Monday, May 24th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  G7 calls for more oil; Opec decides in June

  Finance ministers from the seven highly industrialized countries, G 7, called for lower oil prices at the end of their meeting this weekend in New York.

• Monday, May 24th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Former IMF head president of Germany

  Horst Kohler a former Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund and running as an opposition candidate was elected Germany's new president for a five year mandate