Politics

• Thursday, February 17th 2011 - 01:18 UTC

  Argentina’s boost-industry import restrictions estimated in one billion US dollars

  

  Imports restrictions imposed this week by the Argentine government with the purpose of “preserving the re-industrialization process” cover approximately 200 products totalling annual imports of a billion US dollars, according to preliminary reports.

• Wednesday, February 16th 2011 - 22:53 UTC

  Mantega reiterates opposition to French plan for commodity prices regulation

  

  Brazil reiterated opposition to a French plan to impose regulation on commodity prices, saying it could have “negative effects” on major suppliers such as itself. “Brazil is totally opposed to a mechanism of control or regulation of commodity prices,” Finance Minister Guido Mantega told reporters, reiterating a position he gave last week.

• Wednesday, February 16th 2011 - 22:39 UTC

  Uruguay’s debt rated “positive” and edging on investment grade, says DBRS

  

  Canadian credit rating agency DBRS maintained Uruguay’s debt at BB (two steps below investment grade) but elevated prospect from stable to positive. The latest release from DBRS means Uruguay in the next 6 to 12 months could advance to one step below investment grade if “current fiscal discipline is sustained and levels of debt continue the descending trend”.

• Wednesday, February 16th 2011 - 22:34 UTC

  Trichet blames Euro-zone inflation spike on emerging economies rapid recovery

  

  The European Central Bank is not surrendering its price stability objective for crisis management policy, the bank's President Jean-Claude Trichet said. He also argued that the recent spike in Euro zone inflation is due to the current rapid economic recovery in emerging markets and not due to the currency bloc's sovereign debt crisis.

• Wednesday, February 16th 2011 - 22:30 UTC

  World’s largest mining company fearful of espionage from China and competitors

  

  Anglo Australian mining giant BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers confirmed reports that he is fearful of espionage from China, competitors like Rio Tinto and the Australian government, saying it is one reason why he lobbied furiously for short-term pricing of key commodities.

• Wednesday, February 16th 2011 - 13:31 UTC

  Brazil cuts defence budget but purchase of 36 new jets remains on the agenda

  

  Brazil's government will cut 4,2 billion Brazilian Real (approximately 2.4 billion USD) from its 15.17 billion defense budget this year under proposed fiscal tightening, Defense Minister Nelson Jobim announced this week.

• Wednesday, February 16th 2011 - 06:18 UTC

  Argentine Justice takes on the incident of the US Air Force plane cargo

  

  Argentine Judge Ezequiel Berón de Astrada requested on Tuesday Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman; Security Minister Nilda Garré; and the US Embassy “all the information they have” on the incident regarding the US Air Force plane seized in Ezeiza international airport.

• Wednesday, February 16th 2011 - 06:14 UTC

  US President Obama visits Brazil March 19 and 20

  

  The Brazilian government confirmed on Tuesday that US President Barak Obama will make an official visit to Brazil on March 19 and 20.

• Wednesday, February 16th 2011 - 06:08 UTC

  Bolivia will appeal to Central bank reserves to stockpile food staples

  

  Bolivia prepared to tap its record 10 billion US dollars in central bank reserves to help boost agricultural production and stockpile food staples as a hedge against a looming global “food crisis” Finance Minister Luis Arce said.

• Wednesday, February 16th 2011 - 01:17 UTC

  More Argentine measures “to preserve re-industrialization process”

  

  Argentina extended the application of LNA non-automatic licenses to a list of new imported products, which include metallurgical products, electronics, some fabrics, high-range automobiles, bicycles and bicycle parts.