News of deal

Argentina: Conditions not in place to sign Mercosur-EU deal

Today 12:09 Argentina’s outgoing government says conditions are not in place to sign long-delayed free-trade agreement between Mercosur and European Union.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

Macron concerns derail EU-Mercosur trade agreement yet again

Yesterday 08:33 EU-Mercosur trade deal receives a serious setback after French President Emmanuel Macron declares environmental concessions obtained by the European bloc fall short of what’s needed.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

EU-Mercosur trade agreement postponed as Milei awaited

02-12-2023 15:03 Major trade deal between the European Union and Latin American economies now unlikely to be signed next week as hoped, as additional commitments will require Javier Milei's approval.

MERCOSUR BLOC

EU, South America near deal on elusive Mercosur trade pact

30-11-2023 12:51 European Union and Mercosur are closer than ever to concluding a major free-trade agreement more than two decades in the making, with leaders optimistic they can strike a deal next week.

ELECTION 2023: REACTION

IMF chief looks forward to 'working closely' with Javier Milei

20-11-2023 11:18 Reacting to Javier Milei's election win, Kristalina Georgieva says she looked forward to working with Argentina's president-elect.

ELECTION 2023

As run-off nears, Massa draws a yuan bridge to avoid IMF pressures

14-11-2023 11:28 When an agreement was reached in August, the IMF’s board of directors wanted to distance itself from Argentina’s electoral process, preparing for the next stage of negotiations with the future government. An informal meeting, held after the October 22 elections, has placed in doubt the remittance of US$3.3 billion which the country needs to meet debt deadlines. The Economy Ministry has assembled a safety buffer with the Chinese currency swap, hoping to reach the next harvest in acceptable shape.

by Ariel Maciel

IMF DEBT DEAL

Argentina pays US$2.6 billion maturity to IMF

01-11-2023 21:12 State news agency confirms Argentina's government made US$2.6-billion payment to settle maturity from record International Monetary Fund debt programme.

WARNING FROM FUND

IMF warns Argentina not to dawdle on incremental economic reform

14-10-2023 07:47 Argentina has no time to make gradual economic adjustments as it faces soaring consumer prices and its sixth recession in a decade, says top IMF official.

IMF DEBT

The IMF’s US$43-billion Argentina problem is about to get worse

06-10-2023 17:33 Geopolitics helped keep the credit flowing to Argentina. Even so, at some point the International Monetary Fund — and its biggest shareholder, the United States — might call time.

MERCOSUR

Mercosur responds to EU document of environmental demands

15-09-2023 16:27 Mercosur responds to EU document outlining environmental demands amid moves to close free-trade agreement between both blocs.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

Lula urges meeting of EU-Mercosur leaders over trade deal fate

11-09-2023 11:34 EU and the Mercosur countries have been in talks to try to clinch a trade accord for more than 20 years – Lula says it's not time to decide, once and for all.

IMF DEBT PROGRAMME

IMF says Argentina must 'contain' public spending on wages, pensions

25-08-2023 11:36 IMF statement stresses need for Argentina to "contain spending on wages and pensions."

DEBT DISBURSEMENT

IMF approves US$7.5 billion for Argentina despite missed targets

24-08-2023 01:04 Multilateral lender approves massive disbursement, extending a financial lifeline to government ahead of a tight presidential race; Sergio Massa holds talks with Kristalina Georgieva in Washington.

IMF DEBT DEAL

Government gets disbursement lifeline after Fund board approval

23-08-2023 23:02 The board decision completes the fifth and sixth reviews of the programme and enables immediate disbursement of the US$7.5-billion payment, according to an IMF statement.

MASSA IN WASHINGTON

Argentina says IMF to allow currency intervention to hold range

23-08-2023 22:42 IMF to allow Argentina to intervene in currency markets if peso drifts above or beyond a certain range, says Economy Minister Sergio Massa.

IMF DEBT PROGRAMME

IMF board approves US$7.5-billion disbursement for Argentina

23-08-2023 14:46 Spokesperson for Economy Minister Sergio Massa says IMF's executive board has approved release of US$7.5 billion in funds to Argentina.

IMF DEBT PROGRAMME

Massa heads to US for talks with IMF on loans

21-08-2023 08:40 Sergio Massa will travel to the United States on Monday for talks with the International Monetary Fund on the country’s refinancing disbursements amid the peso’s devaluation.

PASO REACTION

Argentina seeks larger IMF disbursement after 18% devaluation

14-08-2023 22:16 Argentina intends to ask the International Monetary Fund to increase a disbursement planned for later this month by an unspecified amount

IMF DEBT DEAL

Argentina gets US$775-million loan from Qatar to repay IMF

04-08-2023 04:38 Argentina is paying the International Monetary Fund with help from Qatar, the latest creative accounting measure by the government intended to honour its debt obligations.

latin america

Lula sees global fatigue over Ukraine as he pushes for peace

19-07-2023 13:44 Brazil's Lula calls for peace as world grows weary of Ukraine conflict.

IMF DEBT TALKS

Argentina expects to reach IMF staff-level agreement Friday

17-07-2023 17:18 Officials expect to close a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund by Friday after months of negotiations over the US$44-billion programme.

IMF DEBT TALKS

IMF ‘negotiating intensively’ with Argentina, says spokesperson

13-07-2023 15:02 Argentina and the International Monetary Fund are "working intensively" to reach an agreement over the fifth review of the country’s record credit programme; Economy Ministry officials head to Washington.

ELECTION 2023

Sergio Massa’s Argentina election bid puts IMF staff in a bind

08-07-2023 06:31 As government seeks new deal, October presidential vote looms; Observers worry that generous terms would aid Massa’s campaign.

SUMMIT IN PUERTO IGUAZÚ

Mercosur meet ends with disputes over EU deal, trade, Venezuela

07-07-2023 12:49 Argentina, Brazil take aim at EU's environmental trade deal terms; Uruguay and Paraguay expose rift with Brasília and Buenos Aires over Maduro regime’s treatment of opposition politician in Venezuela.

IMF DEBT

Argentina to unify July IMF debt dues into single payment

06-07-2023 15:22 Economy Ministry officials postpone trip to United States for talks with International Monetary Fund as differences between both parties persist.

IMF DEBT TALKS

Argentine officials push back trip to Washington as IMF talks drag on

05-07-2023 13:03 Key Economy Ministry officials postpone trip to United States for talks with International Monetary Fund as differences between both parties persist.

MERCOSUR TENSIONS

Lula vows to grow Mercosur amid Uruguay flak, Argentina crisis

05-07-2023 11:00 Plans to strengthen and expand the Mercosur trading bloc hit by disagreement among its members over several topics, including Venezuela and free-trade agreements with other markets.

Mercosur summit

Argentina, Brazil take aim at EU's environmental trade deal terms

04-07-2023 14:49 Argentina and Brazil slam "unacceptable" EU stance in negotiations with the Mercosur bloc for long-delayed free-trade deal.

MERCOSUR SUMMIT

Alberto Fernández shows off support for Sergio Massa at Mercosur summit

04-07-2023 14:34 At the Mercosur summit in Puerto Iguazú, President Alberto Fernández shows off support for Economy Minister Sergio Massa, who secures a host of invitations from foreign leaders.

by Rosario Ayerdi

MERCOSUR TENSIONS

Uruguay steps up criticism of Mercosur at Argentina summit

04-07-2023 13:56 Uruguay steps up criticism of Mercosur at key summit, saying internal trade barriers are hurting exports to Argentina while the bloc's regulations prevent it from signing an agreement with China.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

Argentina calls for ‘updating’ of EU-Mercosur trade deal

03-07-2023 14:44 Argentina's Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero opens Mercosur summit with call for "updating" of bloc's free-trade agreement reached in 2019 with the European Union.

ANALYSIS

Are we close to a EU-Mercosur trade agreement?

03-07-2023 10:34 The latest diplomatic signs suggest that the Southern Cone bloc is interested in reaching an understanding. Hopefully the European Union will listen to its own commission, which is also pushing for a deal.

Lithium and Argentina

Argentina to buy lithium from Livent for battery production

02-07-2023 10:51 Argentina will buy locally-produced lithium from US company Livent Corp to produce cells and batteries in a new plant set to start operating in September.

IMF DEBT DEAL

Government makes IMF loan repayment partly with yuan

01-07-2023 08:36 Short on dollars, President Alberto Fernández's government has made a US$2.7-billion loan repayment to the International Monetary Fund partly using Chinese yuan.

IMF DEBT DEAL

Argentina pays IMF as negotiations to continue in Washington

30-06-2023 21:44 Government makes two payments owed to the International Monetary Fund before a Friday deadline; Senior officials Leonardo Madcur and Gabriel Rubinstein to hold discussions over a new staff-level agreement next week in Washington.

IMF DEBT

Argentina to pay US$2.7 billion as IMF negotiations continue

29-06-2023 18:22 Government set to make payment due in June to the International Monetary Fund. In order to avoid a further dollar haemorrhage, payment will be made in part in Chinese currency, with the rest from unused Special Drawing Rights.

IMF DEBT DEAL

Latin America leaders ask Biden to back Argentina in IMF talks

23-06-2023 00:47 Group of Latin American presidents urge US President Joe Biden to support Argentina in ongoing negotiations over its US$44-billion programme with the IMF.

IMF DEBT DEAL

Argentina asks IMF to postpone payments until end of month

22-06-2023 18:17 Government winks at multilateral lender, looking to smooth payments as negotiations over agreement continue; Economy Ministry sends proposal for unified payment at end of month with expectation of prompt reply.

Debt deal talks

IMF: Argentina facing ‘very complex’ economic situation

08-06-2023 16:50 Spokesperson for International Monetary Fund says multilateral lender is working “very hard” with government in Buenos Aires; Talks with President Alberto Fernández’s administration, which wants up to US$20 billion of disbursements advanced ongoing.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

European lawmakers urge environmental protections from Brazil

18-05-2023 20:45 European Union lawmakers tell Brazil to show it is serious about protecting the environment and Amazon rainforest iflong-stalled EU trade deal with Mercosur is to be finalised.

IMF DEBT TALKS

IMF ‘evaluating’ new government measures as talks continue

18-05-2023 20:41 International Monetary Fund says they are still "evaluating the measures" announced this week by Argentina’s government, as negotiations over changes to the country’s multi-billion-dollar credit-line advance.

IMF DEBT TALKS

IMF confirms progress in Argentina programme talks

09-05-2023 10:34 International Monetary Fund spokesperson says talks with Argentina over a reformulation of its record credit programme amid historic drought are “progressing in a constructive manner.”

POLITICAL INSIDER

Alberto, CFK and Massa: three different strategies for upcoming elections

30-04-2023 09:07 Sergio Massa’s management is supported by Vice-President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, but she has not blessed his candidacy. President Alberto Fernández insists that he will present his own hopeful, but the economy minister’s battle against inflation and currency crises – and how they play out – could be the deciding factor.

by Rosario Ayerdi

FIERY SPEECH FROM CFK

Cristina attacks Milei's dollarisation plan, blames IMF for inflation

27-04-2023 23:52 Vice-president declares that dollarisation would be “worse than convertibility” as she delivers highly anticipated speech that attacks IMF policies, opposition ‘inheritance’ and Javier Milei.

ELECTION 2023

CFK confirms she will not run for presidency

27-04-2023 23:27 Cristina Fernández de Kirchner reiterated on Thursday that she will not be a candidate in the October presidential elections.

DEBT PROGRAMME IN DOUBT?

Argentina and IMF go back to drawing board on debt deal

27-04-2023 23:04 As an exchange rate crisis ravages the strength of the peso, spokespeople from the International Monetary Fund and the government confirm that “constructive” talks are underway to redraw terms of Argentina’s US$44.5-billion debt programme.

POLITICS & ECONOMY

Fernández de Kirchner blames IMF for peso sell-off, inflation

27-04-2023 23:02 Cristina Fernández de Kirchner criticises the International Monetary Fund for prohibiting Argentina's Central Bank from intervening in financial markets to tame currency volatility in keynote speech.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

Brazil, Spain want EU-Mercosur deal by end of the year

26-04-2023 14:04 Leaders of Brazil and Spain hope long-delayed trade deal between the European Union and Mercosur trade bloc can be finalised by the end of the year.

IMF DEBT PROGRAMME

Kirchnerites ramp up pressure ahead of IMF talks

20-04-2023 18:22 Argentina and the IMF agree to renegotiate US$44-billion programme amid concerns over impact of drought; Interior Minister Eduardo de Pedro slams deal for creating “vicious inflationary circle” and says “everything has to be re-discussed.”