Mercosur

• Friday, August 19th 2016 - 10:11 UTC

  Argentina points to Uruguay for causing a “vacuum” in Mercosur and the current situation

  

  Argentina considers that Uruguay created a “vacuum” in Mercosur when it unilaterally adopted the decision to devolve the block's presidency, and creating an unprecedented situation. Since then Mercosur has been involved in a serious controversy over the transfer of the presidency to Venezuela, which has strongly discredited the South American block.

• Thursday, August 18th 2016 - 06:13 UTC

  Uruguay back steps on its claims regarding Brazil and the Mercosur presidency controversy

  

  Uruguay back stepped on its statements referred to Brazil's “bullying with the Mercosur presidency” and admits there was a misunderstanding regarding Brazil's invitation for a joint trade promotion in third countries, according to an official clarification Wednesday release from the Uruguayan foreign ministry.

• Thursday, August 18th 2016 - 06:04 UTC

  Macri after full integration of Mercosur with the Pacific Alliance

  

  Latin America needs greater economic integration and a merger of Mercosur and the Pacific Alliance should be the objective, according to Argentine president Mauricio Macri, who insists in loosening trade restrictions in his country and the region.

• Thursday, August 18th 2016 - 03:28 UTC

  Nin Novoa's statements are “not compatible with the excellent relations between Brazil and Uruguay”

  

  The Brazilian government said it was deeply disappointed and surprised at statements from Uruguay's foreign minister, which “are not compatible with the excelence of relations between Brazil and Uruguay”, according to an official release from Itamaraty, Brazil's foreign ministry, regarding the controversy over the Mercosur presidency.

• Wednesday, August 17th 2016 - 04:56 UTC

  Uruguay ambassador summoned to Itamaraty after minister accuses Brazil of “bullying Mercosur presidency”

  

  Brazil summoned Uruguay's ambassador on Tuesday after the neighboring country's foreign minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa accused Brazil of trying to “buy” its vote to block Venezuela from taking the rotating presidency of the Mercosur trade bloc.

• Tuesday, August 16th 2016 - 07:17 UTC

  Mercosur on collision course: Uruguay rejects collective presidency sponsored by Brazil

  

  Uruguay's Foreign Minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa said on Monday that he was opposed to the proposal that the Mercosur presidency should be held collectively, as a number of countries are opposed to Venezuela taking over the role. The proposal has been sponsored by Paraguay and Brazil for several weeks, particularly Brazil's Foreign Minister Jose Serra.

• Monday, August 15th 2016 - 12:21 UTC

  Mercosur Montevideo 23 August meeting to decide sanctions on Venezuela

  

  The coordinators of Mercosur founding members will decide next 23 August at a meeting in Montevideo on the legal measures to be applied on Venezuela, which self proclaimed itself the presidency of the group and is also questioned for not complying with the rules and regulations to be incorporated to the group. In that case Venezuela could lose its full member status.

• Monday, August 15th 2016 - 07:09 UTC

  Mercosur-India talks expected to expand preferential trade agreement

  

  India has begun the process of expanding its preferential trade agreement with the Mercosur trade bloc, opening its market more to South America and negotiations are expected to start in a month or two. The number of products on which tariff concessions is given is likely to increase to more than 3,000 from 450 at present with more agricultural products getting covered in the pact.

• Monday, August 15th 2016 - 06:39 UTC

  Falklands/Malvinas: Malcorra confirms new dialogue with UK in a raft of issues

  

  Argentina is at the beginning of a new dialogue on the Malvinas issue with the current UK government and this includes air links, hydrocarbons, identifying Argentine graves remains in Falklands, a possible meeting of the two countries' leaders in China, but none of this will happen overnight or make media headlines, anticipated foreign minister Susana Malcorra.

• Thursday, August 11th 2016 - 17:53 UTC

  Falklands discards air links with Argentina and iterates London pledge to support hydrocarbons development

  

  The Falkland Islands government has made a public statement pointing out that the UK Government has been open and transparent with FIG about how it would like to improve the bilateral relationship with Argentina but ”has made it clear that this will not include negotiations on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.”