Cheaper imports from Mercosur and the recovering dairy market will push down EU beef production and prices, states in a long-awaited impact study released by the European Union. Dairy and pigmeat exports will see steady gains, says the report, which looked at the cost of 12 pending trade deals on EU agri-food markets.
Petrobras will begin selling off huge “pre-salt” oil fields to raise cash for the desperate Brazilian national oil company, according to new legislation passed by Congress. Politicians in the lower house had fought against the bill, but lawmakers succeeded in pushing the bill through during a late-night session, and the vote stood at 251-22 by the end of the night.
The chair of the Argentine Episcopal Conference (CEA) Monsignor Jose Maria Arancedo renewed his call to the leadership of the country, political, social, unions and business, to leave aside special interests and act responsibly for the good of the country, at a very difficult moment so that we can all enjoy Christmas in Peace
Argentina's Lower House left its peers from the Mercosur Parliament, Parlasur, with no allowances, despite claims from most of its 43 members. Last week the Chamber of Deputies approved the Argentine budget which must now be considered by the Senate.
Uruguay's president Tabare Vazquez met with the former president of Brazil Dilma Rousseff and Illustrious visitor of Montevideo at the official presidential residence in Suarez. Rousseff arrived in Montevideo on Thursday and displayed an intense political agenda on Friday which culminated on Saturday with her meeting with Vazquez.
The President of Mercosur’s parliament (Parlasur) thinks that the European Union’s current tabled offer is “unsatisfactory” and made it clear that it shouldn’t be signed in its current form. Jorge Taiana, head of the parliament, and former foreign minister with ex president Cristina Fernandez, complained that the negotiations, which resumed about seven years ago, are taking far too long, but added that in the absence of a “balanced agreement”, nothing should be signed.
A European Union parliament delegation of fourteen lawmakers is in Buenos Aires to prop Mercosur/EU trade talks, and even admitting there has been advances, and prospects are encouraging, they also acknowledged that many objections from both sides persist.
Brazilian president Michel Temer said that Portugal and Spain are determined to help speed trade negotiations between Mercosur and the European Union. Temer made the announcement on hosting Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa who was on a brief visit to Brazil for the Community of Portuguese Language Countries summit in Brasilia.
By Sam Roberts, The New York Times
Jorge Batlle, the brash scion of a political dynasty who had been groomed to be president of Uruguay since he was a teenager, got elected to the post on his fifth try and then audaciously presided over a pro-American administration that survived a brush with bankruptcy, died on Monday in Montevideo. He was 88.
The Falklands Islands are recalling a milestone decision for the development and transformation of the economy of the country. On October 29, 1986 a Proclamation declaring the Interim Falklands Conservation and Management Zone was signed by Governor Gordon Jewkes. Director of Natural Resources, John Barton pointed out at a presentation on Wednesday evening to mark 30 years of Falkland Fisheries.