The world's main trading nations remain divided over a global trade deal despite a compromise plan put forward by the European Union to rescue the stalled Doha trade round, the EU trade chief said.
The U.S. Travel Association unveiled a plan to create 1.3 million U.S. jobs and add 859 billion dollars to the U.S. economy by 2020 by reforming an antiquated visa process that often drives international travelers to other countries. The heart of U.S. Travel's plan is to increase staffing, reduce visa interview wait times and expand the Visa Waiver Program.
Following a long day of open letters and press exchanges Argentina and Brazil finally agreed on the ground rules for the initiation of a ‘constructive dialogue’ to soften the trade dispute which erupted when Brazil imposed non automatic licences on imported cars, including from Mercosur’ main partner Argentina.
Brazil is tightening requirements for imports of cars in a move that sparked complaints from Argentina, its biggest supplier of the product. Imports to Brazil will need a special license that can take as long as 60 days to be approved, the Trade Ministry said in an e-mailed statement.
Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff cancelled on medical advice Sunday’s trip to Asunción where she was scheduled to participate in the bicentennial celebrations of Paraguay’s independence.
Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner insisted on Thursday that she “is not dying to be president again” but also sent a scathing message targeting organized labour rejecting ‘blackmailing’ and any attempts to bring down the (economic) model.
Vote count in Ecuador showed President Rafael Correa heading for a referendum victory on Thursday after he accused electoral officials of delaying the tally in pro-government regions.
The eight nation Arctic Council agreed steps on Thursday to make the region safer and promised to study ways to prevent oil spills as fast-melting ice and snow open access to rich mineral and petroleum resources.
Brazil’s Commerce and Industry minister Fernando Pimentel called on the Argentine government to de-activate restrictions on Brazilian exports and revealed he had addressed a letter to his Argentine peer Debora Giorgi exposing restrictions on bilateral trade and demanding a reply this coming week end.
The United States free trade deals with Colombia, Panama and South Korea will pass through Congress by August if Republicans renew funding for the retraining of displaced workers, the chief U.S. trade official said Thursday.