
Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou called for “sustaining the largest port investment in history” and pledged to “watch over the national interest” in the US$ 600 million lawsuit filed by Montecon before the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) for alleged “anti-competitive practices” in the Port of Montevideo.

Chilean and Canadian partners of the Montecon consortium handling operations in the port of Montevideo have started an arbitration process for “damages and losses” worth up to US$ 600 million against the Uruguayan State before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) after preventing the company from transferring and storing containers in the facility's docks. Montecon is owned by the Neltume Ports consortium.

Uruguayan physicians reported this week that respiratory infections and emergency room visits for this type of illness are on the rise. In addition, the Health Ministry has expressed concern about the low number of pregnant women who have received the flu vaccine this season.

Uruguay's National Party Chairman of the Board Pablo Iturralde resigned his post Thursday after it was proved he had had a conversation with jailed former Senator Gustavo Penadés who is under investigation for alleged sexual misconduct.

Uruguayan authorities have declared a 120-day agricultural emergency to deal with the consequences of severe floods hitting parts of the country. The weather phenomenon is a geographical continuation of the one that hit the Brazilian State of Rio Grande do Sul killing some 175 people with several dozens still unaccounted for.

By Oliver Pieper - The free trade deal between the European Union and the South American trade bloc Mercosur could become the world's largest agreement, involving a market of a total of 780 million people. But in late March, French President Emmanuel Macron not only described it as “a very bad agreement,” he even suggested it should be “left behind” and called for “a new agreement.”

Uruguay has purchased a private scientific hydrographic vessel, from a United States company, Global Seas LLC, and has paid US$ 3,5 million, according to official information from the government.

Chinese authorities have authorized additional Uruguayan slaughterhouses to ship beef and horsemeat from plants in Florida and Canelones to that country, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Fernando Mattos confirmed Friday.

Uruguayan authorities came up with the so-called “Residence by rootedness” (“residencia por arraigo”) solution to help some 20,000 migrants who had their asylum requests rejected but would otherwise need a consular visa to stay in the country, it was announced in Montevideo.

Uruguayan authorities have reached an agreement with the company managing Montevideo's Carrasco International Airport for the installation of state-of-the-art navigation equipment which would make landings safer even under foggy weather.