
Uruguay growth estimate has been downed for 2012 while prices will be higher, according to the latest IMF World Economic Outlook released on Tuesday. The economy is set to grow 3.5% down from 4.2% while prices will climb to 7.4% compared to the 6.5% estimate of the previous WEO last September.

The economy of Mercosur junior member Paraguay, is set to remain flat or even suffer a slight contraction in 2012 after several years of sustained growth announced on Tuesday the country’s central bank.

The next Mercosur presidential summit is scheduled to take place next 26/28 June in the city of Mendoza, when the rotating chair will be handed for the following six months to Brazil.

The Paraguayan government called for “reflection and dialogue” from the Argentine government in order to find a solution to the commercial restrictions in place on imported products, “we don’t need any more walls”.

Foreign ministers from the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) reaffirmed their support for Argentina over the Malvinas Islands sovereignty dispute at the annual meeting held in Asunción, Paraguay.

The European Union and Mercosur concluded Friday in Brussels the eighth round of negotiations for a free trade agreement with the commitment to begin exchanging market access proposals at the next meeting.

The Mercosur tourism industry had a turnover of 15 billion dollars last year with the Brazilians providing the largest number of tourists to the group’s associates, according to a report from neighboring countries representatives presented at the International Tourism Bourse in Berlin.

Mercosur junior member Paraguay that is suffering the Argentine restrictions on imports and has seen its February exports plummet 70% is planning ‘mirror’ countermeasures but emphasizing on those products with greater impact for Argentina and lesser for Paraguay.

Brazil imposed additional levies on the import of blankets from Mercosur associates Paraguay and Uruguay alleging triangulation of Chinese textiles, which are restricted because of dumping practices.

Mercosur from a real point of view exits, but institutionally it’s a “chewing gum” claimed Uruguayan president Jose Mujica who anticipated he would demand from the block’s partners that Uruguay be allowed to sign bilateral trade agreements with third parties.