Uruguay

• Thursday, August 11th 2016 - 06:14 UTC

  Pacific Alliance members invite Uruguay to sign free trade agreements

  

  Uruguay, a founding member of Mercosur has been invited by Pacific Alliance members Colombia and Peru to update and expand commercial agreements with the two countries and turn them into a free trade treaty, foreign minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa revealed during a hearing in Congress to analyze the current situation in Mercosur.

• Wednesday, August 10th 2016 - 05:24 UTC

  Venezuela as Mercosur full member faces deadline: Friday 12 August

  

  Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina are waiting for a report on Venezuela´s compliance with the accords agreed in 2012, which has to delivered next Friday 12 August, and could lead the group of three counties deciding the suspension of Caracas as full member of Mercosur. A week and a half later, 23 August, representatives of these countries will be meeting to address the issue.

• Wednesday, August 10th 2016 - 03:49 UTC

  UK with a Great Pavilion will be present at Uruguay's main agriculture show

  

  With just a month to go until Uruguay's main agro show, Expo Prado, the British Embassy in Montevideo announces that for the third consecutive year it will be present with a Great Pavilion focused on business, education, culture, tourism, gastronomy and entertainment. British brands such as JCB Machinery, Polo Club clothing, FCR-DAS who specialise in quality management certification, fire extinguishers from Noblex, Brompton and other bicycles courtesy of Muvin will all be taking part.

• Sunday, August 7th 2016 - 20:47 UTC

  Venezuela to be “demoted” from full Mercosur membership on 12 August

  

  Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil are considering the “demotion” of Venezuela's Mercosur full membership unless by next August 12 it complies with all conditions to hold such a position, according to the Brazilian media following a meeting of the three presidents in the sidelines of the opening of the Rio Olympic Games.

• Friday, August 5th 2016 - 19:50 UTC

  Mercosur founding members agree to disagree, but will hold another round of talks

  

  Mercosur founding members coordinators who met in Montevideo on Thursday to address the controversy over the presidency of the group and the self proclamation to the post by Venezuela, did finally reach some conclusions, but the most significant seems to be that they continue to disagree on the steps to follow and are prepared for another round of talks.

• Friday, August 5th 2016 - 12:18 UTC

  Moody's lowers Uruguay's banking system outlook to negative: inflation remains main challenge

  

  Moody's has lowered its outlook on Uruguay's (Baa2 negative) banking system to negative from stable on the expectation that asset risks will rise moderately as challenging economic conditions weigh on consumers and businesses alike, and profitability will decline.

• Thursday, August 4th 2016 - 21:52 UTC

  Venezuela defies Mercosur members and announces it will “fully exercise the presidency”

  

  Venezuela has defiantly confirmed that is will fully exercise the “self-proclaimed” presidency of Mercosur, despite the opposition from Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, who consider the chair vacant and are meeting in Montevideo to find an alternative for the six month mandate.

• Wednesday, August 3rd 2016 - 06:10 UTC

  Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay consider Mercosur chair 'vacant' and call for urgent meeting

  

  Mercosur's disarray and fault lines were again exposed when Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay insisted that Venezuela's self proclamation as president of the group was invalid, and also expressed disappointment with Uruguay for having ended its mandate last Saturday causing “great uncertainty”.

• Tuesday, August 2nd 2016 - 06:52 UTC

  Mercosur in a state of disarray; Venezuela's presidency disavowed by Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay

  

  Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay have announced they do not support Venezuela as the pro tempore presidency of Mercosur, further deepening controversy in the group which could even hinder ongoing trade negotiations with the European Union and closer links with the Pacific Alliance.

• Monday, August 1st 2016 - 13:09 UTC

  Venezuela announces it now holds the chair of Mercosur; strong objections from Paraguay (and Brazil)

  

  Venezuela announced to fellow Mercosur members that for the rest of the year it was the new chair of the group, following on the expiration of Uruguay's six month mandate on Saturday, 30 July. The news was released by Spain's official news agency EFE, which alleges to have had access to the letter sent by the Venezuelan foreign ministry to the other four members.