
By Jorge Argüello (*) - What defines a protectionist country nowadays? Is it when a developing country takes precautions against a flood of products with plummeting prices due to an international crisis? Or, is it when an export powerhouse delivers large subsidies exclusively for domestic production? In a world economy like today’s can protectionism be measured solely by Customs measures or those targeting imports?

Just days after finalizing the hostile takeover of Spanish-owned oil and gas company YPF, the Argentine government got even more hostile, freezing imports of Spain’s signature delicacy: ham.

United States ambassador Julissa Reynoso said Uruguayan president Jose Mujica is welcome to the White House whenever he wishes, and revealed that Uruguay is in the short list of countries that soon could be exempted from requiring a visa to travel to the US.

Students from the Falkland Islands Community School (FICS) have returned from a two week exchange visit to Punta Arenas in Chile, reports the latest edition from the Penguin News.

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague praised Chile during a meeting in London with his peer Alfredo Moreno to discuss a range of issues on which the two countries can work together.

Spain told its banks on Friday to set aside another 30 billion Euros to cover potential losses on real estate and ordered an independent audit of their debts, an effort to restore confidence in a sector that is at the heart of the country's financial crisis.

Defence Minister Arturo Puricelli once again claimed Argentine sovereignty over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands at the Unasur headquarters in Ecuador and warned that “the usurpation of the Islands affects all of the South American nations” plus insisting on the military/civilian ration in the Islands.

By Harold Briley - Hitler exploited the Olympics. Argentina’s cynical and infantile exploitation of the Olympic Games for political purposes is a reminder, if any is needed, of its persistent failure to abide by accepted standards of honesty and decency.

April inflation in Argentina averaged 2.16% accumulating 23.45% in the last twelve months, --more than double the official index-- according to the monthly release from opposition members of Congress based on information from private economic consultants.

Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota praised the “great political convergence” between Argentina and Brazil and assured that any existing problems related to the bilateral trade “do not tarnish this very strong reality.”