Mercosur

• Tuesday, April 27th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  EU demands more integration from future associates

  The European Union cautioned Andean and Central American countries that any future trade association must have trade significance and is conditioned to the current World Trade Organization round.

• Tuesday, April 27th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Colombia acquits three IRA suspects

  A Colombian court this Monday acquitted three Irish Republican Army members of training local leftist rebels in bomb-making techniques. However the court sentenced the three on false documentation charges.

• Tuesday, April 27th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Record trade surplus in Brazil

  Brazil's trade surplus reached 7,678 billon US dollars between January 1 and April 25, a significant increase over the 5,291 billion US dollars of the same period a year ago reported the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade.

• Tuesday, April 27th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Mercosur natural gas integration

  Brazilian Mines and Energy Minister Dilma Rousseff emphasized the significance of natural gas integration between Bolivia, Argentina and Brazil.

• Tuesday, April 27th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Colombian oil output declining.

  Colombian oil output dropped almost 6% in the first quarter of 2004 compared to the same period last year reported this Tuesday state-owned oil company Ecopetrol.

• Monday, April 26th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Copper price boom helps Chile.

  The Chilean government Copper Committee, Cochilco, has increased this year's estimates for the red metal that will now stand in a range of 126 to 130 US cents the pound.

• Monday, April 26th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Formal Chilean protest to Bolivia.

  Chile presented Bolivia a formal protest following the signing of a natural gas supply agreement between Argentina and Bolivia that specifically excludes any gas from going to Chile said Chilean Foreign Affairs minister Soledad Alvear.

• Monday, April 26th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil slows down Mercosur-EU talks.

  Brazilian reluctance, and strategy, seems to be slowing trade negotiations between Mercosur and the European Union following the latest contacts.

• Monday, April 26th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Record unemployment in Sao Paulo

  Unemployment last March in Great Sao Paulo reached a record 20,6%, 0,8 higher than last February (19,8) and 0,9 above a year ago according to a report from the Inter-unions Economic and Social Statistics Department, Diese.

• Sunday, April 25th 2004 - 21:00 UTC

  Chilean gov't says natural gas shortage a “sensitive issue”

  Chilean Chancellor Soledad Alvear said on Saturday that the supply problem caused by Argentine restrictions on gas exports to Chile is becoming “a sensitive issue provoking a great deal of concern”.