News of 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.

JAVIER MILEI INTERVIEW

Milei says he’d reject ‘assassin’ China, take Argentina out of Mercosur

16-08-2023 22:04 Presidential frontrunner doesn’t want to engage with leftists; Diana Mondino to run foreign ministry if president, Milei says.

MERCOSUR TENSIONS

Paraguay's next leader calls for 'more open' Mercosur

09-08-2023 14:55 Paraguayan president-elect Santiago Peña, supports a "more open" Mercosur and rejects the idea of a common currency for the South American bloc.

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.

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.

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.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

Mercosur summit opens as EU trade deal hangs in the balance

03-07-2023 08:33 Four regional presidents set to meet at key Mercosur summit in Puerto Iguazú, with talks over free-trade deal with the European Union dominating the agenda.

LULA in EUROPE

Brazil's Lula to talk trade with Macron on France, Italy trip

19-06-2023 14:53 Veteran leftist leader Lula says he will discuss the EU's proposed "hardening" of terms in Mercosur trade deal during trip to France, Italy and the Vatican.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

Lula tells EU chief Brazil has 'concerns' over Mercosur trade deal

12-06-2023 19:06 Brazil President Lula says he has "concerns" over the European Union's efforts to add new environmental protections to a trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur.

FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY

EU seeks to boost 'neglected' ties with Latin America

07-06-2023 12:42 European Union launches new strategy to "recalibrate and renew" relations with Latin American and Caribbean countries, just over a month before first EU-CELAC summit for eight years.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

French official: EU, Mercosur will 'take time' to conclude deal

06-06-2023 11:12 French government official says European Union and Mercosur both want to "take their time" to finalise trade deal.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

France: EU-Mercosur trade deal still long way from being signed

02-06-2023 13:34 Free-trade agreement is not close to being signed, French diplomatic source says.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

Lula: Brazil 'will not give in' on public procurement in EU-Mercosur deal

26-05-2023 11:25 Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva declared Thursday that Brazil "will not give in" in talks over the free-trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union.

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.

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.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

EU explores options to tackle Latin America’s green deal worries

20-04-2023 17:34 Mercosur members Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay have expressed concerns about the impact of the European Green Deal.

TRADE & DIPLOMACY

Spain: EU closer than ever to unlock Mercosur trade deal

10-03-2023 10:39 Spain is confident that the European Union can finally unlock a free-trade agreement with a group of South American countries, including Brazil and Argentina, and push forward a process that has dragged on for decades.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

Macron warns EU-Mercosur deal hinges on environment

25-02-2023 15:30 French president says long-delayed trade deal between the EU and four Latin American nations "is not possible" if they do not follow European environmental policies.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

EU, Mercosur accelerate trade deal against backdrop of Sino-American tussle

06-02-2023 10:44 For more than two decades, the European Union and Mercosur laboriously negotiated a trade deal they agreed but never signed. Now, both sides want to finalise it to create a necessary partnership amid the global dispute between the United States and China.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

Mercosur seeking ‘revised agreement’ with EU, says Cafiero

01-02-2023 18:58 Foreign minister says ‘assymetries’ in deal must be resolved; Top EU officials pinpoint July summit in Brussels as potential completion date.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

EU, Mercosur trade deal possible soon, says European official

31-01-2023 13:14 European Union hopes to finalise trade deal with Mercosur by July, says top EU official.

German Chancellor in Brazil

Lula receives Scholz on German leader's last leg of regional tour

30-01-2023 15:29 Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva received Olaf Scholz on Monday, with the German chancellor becoming the first Western leader to visit Brazil since 2015.

German chancellor in Buenos Aires

Fernández, Scholz meet with trade, investment, lithium on agenda

29-01-2023 10:56 Alberto Fernández and Olaf Scholz call for swift approval of stalled free-trade deal between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc; Two leaders ink agreements on lithium, investment and renewable energy.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

Fernández expects Mercosur, EU to close trade deal soon

29-01-2023 10:31 The Mercosur trade group and the European Union will reach a trade agreement soon, declares president during German chancellor's visit to Buenos Aires.

MERCOSUR TENSIONS

Lula urges sealing of EU-Mercosur trade deal before China talks

26-01-2023 00:49 Lula demands Mercosur seal a free-trade agreement with the European Union before moving onto talks with China.

Diplomacy & Trade

Lula in Uruguay: Meeting with Lacalle Pou and a wink to the opposition

25-01-2023 13:10 Brazilian president arrived in Montevideo on Wednesday to meet with Luis Lacalle Pou; Talks regarding the Mercosur trade bloc dominate, but Lula also delivers a nod to the country’s opposition by meeting major figures of the left.

Trade Agreements

Brazil: Uruguay's agreement with China would 'destroy' Mercosur

23-01-2023 15:57 Free-trade agreement between Uruguay and China would destroy Mercosur by contradicting the bloc's integration policies, declares Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira.

BRAZIL LEADER IN ARGENTINA

Lula lands in Buenos Aires seeking rebuild bridges in Latin America

23-01-2023 09:56 Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira says Lula's visit to Buenos Aires and attendance at CELAC summit is part of a foreign policy that will seek to "rebuild bridges" with the international community.

PRESIDENT ON MERCOSUR

President: ‘Agricultural protectionism’ blocking EU-Mercosur deal

01-01-2023 03:00 President Alberto Fernández on tensions within the Mercosur, the future of the regional trade bloc and what is really blocking its controversial free-trade deal with the European Union.

by Jorge Fontevecchia

MERCOSUR TRADE BLOC

Mercosur members avoid rupture at summit as leaders voice concerns

07-12-2022 00:55 Summit ends with parties reiterating their differences over free-trade deals, as President Alberto Fernández accuses Uruguay’s Luis Lacalle Pou of wanting to ‘break up’ the Mercosur trade bloc.

Mercosur tensions

South American trade partners pile pressure on rebel Uruguay

05-12-2022 20:37 Three nations warn Uruguay’s move to chase trade deals without the agreement of its Mercosur partners risks undermining or rupturing customs union.

MERCOSUR TENSIONS

Mercosur’s future in balance as summit begins

05-12-2022 17:48 Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay reiterated their criticism of Uruguay on Monday over their partner’s willingness to negotiate agreements with countries outside the Mercosur bloc.

REGIONAL TRADE BLOC

Mercosur tensions rise as Uruguay seeks trade deal outside bloc

03-12-2022 08:19 Uruguay's move to join one of Asia's biggest pacts marks a rupture after years of Montevideo seeking a more open approach to international commerce by the group.

MERCOSUR TRADE BLOC

Mercosur in open conflict ahead of summit showdown

01-12-2022 14:03 President Alberto Fernández joins forces with Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro and Paraguay’s Mario Abdo Benítez to formally complain over Uruguay’s move to sign trade deals without approval from partners; Next week’s Mercosur summit will be "entertaining," jokes Luis Lacalle Pou, with regional trade bloc set for showdown.

ENVIRONMENT

Lula moves to put Brazil at vanguard of climate negotiations

14-11-2022 09:43 Lula will present his vision for the Amazon, the world’s largest rainforest , at COP27 on Wednesday morning.

WORLD AFFAIRS

‘Latin America can feed more people,’ declares top EU official

27-10-2022 17:32 Foreign ministers from European Union and Latin American nations convene in Buenos Aires to strengthen multilateral ties.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

EU ‘fully committed’ to Mercosur free-trade deal, says top official

24-10-2022 20:56 The European Union is “fully committed” to the stalled free-trade deal with the Mercosur bloc and must move ahead before “other actors intervene,” declares EU official Josep Borrell.

BRAZIL ELECTION 2022

What a Lula victory would mean for Argentina

29-09-2022 18:55 A presidential shake-up in Brazil would have big implications for the country, the region and the Mercosur trade bloc.

by Sam Forster

US Presidency

Biden’s positive Covid test may derail meeting with Alberto Fernández

21-07-2022 16:24 The White House announced this morning that President Joe Biden is isolating after testing positive with Covid-19, likely affecting Argentine President Alberto Fernández’s Washington visit, planned for 26 July.

by Isobel McGrigor

Bilateral Relations

Rodríguez Larreta calls for EU-Mercosur agreement to be ratified

13-04-2022 15:00 Buenos Aires City mayor met with members of European parliaments, discussing bilateral relations, human rights and climate change.

INTERVIEW / PERIODISMO PURO

Santiago Cafiero: ‘The principle of non-intervention guides Argentina’s foreign policy’

14-01-2022 20:00 Argentina’s foreign minister discusses his relationship with President Alberto Fernández, the nation’s ties with the United States and debt talks with the International Monetary Fund.

by Jorge Fontevecchia

Mercosur summit

Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay agree to review Mercosur tariffs

17-12-2021 18:08 Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay agree to continue “modernisation” of bloc and review common external tariff at virtual summit – but without Uruguay's agreement.