Colombian exports to Venezuela totalled 652 million US dollars between January and May 2010, showing a 71.4% fall compared with the first five months of 2009, reports Colombia's Department of Statistics (DANE).
Brazil is seriously considering retaliation against Argentina for new rules restricting food imports which allegedly compete directly with Argentine production. EU ambassadors in Buenos Aires made a similar presentation before the Argentine congress earlier this week.
Russia is planning to strengthen its relations with 61 countries worldwide, including Chile. It is exploring options in Latin America for the development of nuclear power and military sales, a document from its ministry of foreign affairs stated this week.
While the Argentine government remained silent, European Union country ambassadors showed up at the Argentine Congress Thursday in order to protest against food import restrictions. The ambassadors, however, saved their criticisms and instead spoke in a conciliatory tone before the Lower House Foreign Affairs Committee, although they did not hide their “growing worry.”
The European Union and Mercosur will officially re-launch negotiations for a trade and cooperation agreement they have been discussing since 1999 in the coming Madrid summit, in spite of fears about their farm sectors from several European countries, said the EU representative for Paraguay and Uruguay.
Ten European countries, fearing the impact on agriculture, are openly challenging the EU decision to resume trade talks with Mercosur which is to be officially announced next Monday when the opening of the Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union Summit in Spain.
Corn futures rose to a two-month high on mounting demand from China, the world’s second-biggest consumer.
United States trade deficit rose to a 15-month high in March as rising imports underlined the economy's recovery. Figures from the Commerce Department showed the gap between imports and exports rose 2.5% to 40.4 billion US dollars.
The European Union asked Argentina not to restrict food imports, which was reported by manufacturers and producers. Manufacturing sources said that restrictions began being applied in the last few days on products that are also elaborated locally, in a non-written measure that primarily affects the EU and Brazil.
Mercosur rice planters will be meeting to decide a Brazilian proposal to increase the common external tariff thus preventing the introduction of rice from third countries, precisely this year when Brazil’s crop is expected to be below average.