News of mercosur

TRADE TENSIONS

Mercosur braces for change amid calls for new trade rules

18-01-2020 09:19 Regional trade bloc faces uncertain future, with Argentina now in the minority and Uruguay and Brazil seeking the right to secure trade deals outside the bloc’s remit

by Fermin Koop

ARGENTINA-BRAZIL RELATIONS

Daniel Scioli: I’ll de-escalate tensions with Bolsonaro

10-12-2019 10:49 Argentina's next ambassador to Brazil vows support for Lula will not ruin the relationship between the two countries, as both nations will aim for a pragmatic relationship.

by Perfíl/ Rosario Ayerdi

Miguel Díaz-Canel

Cuban leader Díaz-Canel arrives in Argentina ahead of inauguration

09-12-2019 14:56 The first international leader to arrive in Buenos Aires for Tuesday's ceremonies is Miguel Díaz-Canel. Others will soon follow.

TRANSITION 2019

Bolsonaro says trade with Argentina will go on, despite Fernández

09-12-2019 13:30 Reports in the Brazilian press suggest Brazilian leader won't send a government minister to president-elect's inauguration.

MERCOSUR SUMMIT

Tensions loom large at Macri's final Mercosur summit

05-12-2019 18:14 Macri bids farewell to Mercosur at summit in Brazil, with regional bloc reeling from US steel and aluminum tariffs and tensions between Bolsonaro and Alberto Fernández.

FUTURE OF MERCOSUR?

Changing Mercosur bloc meets in Brazil after US tariffs blow

05-12-2019 07:26 Focus of bloc's 55th summit – the last for President Mauricio Macri – looked set to be the arrival of Alberto Fernández in office. The Mercosur now has more immediate concerns: Donald Trump.

Mercosur

Fernández promises 'pragmatic ties' with Brazil and Mercosur

29-11-2019 18:34 President-elect optimistic over Argentina-Brazil relations on Thursday after Brasilia says it has "no problems" with incoming leader. After a turbulent campaign, both sides have agreed to maintain "pragmatic" relations with each other.

URUGUAYAN ELECTIONS

Macri, Fernández seek 'excellent' relationship with Uruguay's next leader

29-11-2019 08:54 Alberto Fernández says relationship with conservative leader Luis Lacalle-Pou will be as good as if opponent Daniel Martínez had won election.

Mercosur 'Braxit'?

Brazil's economy minister: We have 'no problem' with Alberto Fernández

27-11-2019 12:43 At a conference in Washington, Economy Minister Paulo Guedes pours cold water on renewed speculation that Brazil could leave the Mercosur trade bloc when Alberto Fernández takes office.

Bloomberg

Bolsonaro's son calls for 'pragmatism' towards Argentina

21-11-2019 16:48 His approach varies greatly from that of his father, who has publicly eschewed the upcoming presidency of Argentina's Alberto Fernández

CRIME & SECURITY

Mercosur nations agree to let police cross borders in pursuit of criminals

07-11-2019 18:29 Security ministers from four nations agree deal in Foz de Iguaçu. However, accord must still be ratified by governments and legislatures of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

BILATERAL RELATIONS

Bilateral spat between Bolsonaro and Fernández escalates yet again

06-11-2019 17:43 In the latest round of confrontation, outspoken Brazilian leader sends tweets about three companies allegedly closing their factory doors in Argentina – and now looks set to downgrade diplomatic representation at Alberto Fernández's inauguration.

BILATERAL RELATIONS

Spat with Brazil escalates as Bolsonaro says no to Fernández’s inauguration

01-11-2019 13:14 Outspoken Brazilian leader, who said that Argentines “chose poorly” in October's election, says won't be there when Alberto Fernandez is sworn in to office.

ALBERTO PRESIDENTE

Fernández to shift stances on Latin America, US, Venezuela, Brazil, China

29-10-2019 13:28 Fernández has signalled that Argentina will return to its alignment with the left-wing governments of Latin America. That could see closer ties with Mexico and Venezuela, and greater tensions with Brazil, the region’s biggest economy.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Arrival of Fernández set to deepen fragmentation in Latin America

29-10-2019 07:27 Peronist victory in Argentina's presidential election is set to cement a rift between region's largest nations, and suggests turbulence could extend for years.

Election 2019

Latin American leaders congratulate Fernández on victory – except Bolsonaro

28-10-2019 10:20 Fellow leftists regional leaders rally behind Alberto Fernandez, but Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro says he doesn't intend to congratulate Frente de Todos leader.

Argentina

Bolsonaro threatens Mercosur sanctions against Argentina if Fernández wins

24-10-2019 09:53 Outspoken Brazilian leader described potential Frente de Todos victory as “a threat to the Mercosur.”

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

Austria rejects EU-Mercosur trade deal over Amazon fires

19-09-2019 09:49 Key committee in Austrian Parliament rejects draft free-trade agreement between EU and Mercosur over concerns about fires in the Amazon.

'Braxit'?

A Latin American Brexit? Analysing Brazil’s threat on Mercosur

16-09-2019 07:30 Jair Bolsonaro has said Brazil could leave Mercosur if Argentina, the second-largest economy in the customs union, pivots to the left after presidential elections in October. But how feasible is such a break?

AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY

Government agrees new car pact with Brazil through 2029

07-09-2019 01:20 New automobile agreement will ‘consolidate Mercosur’ and improve integration, declares Production and Labour Minister Dante Sica.

BILATERAL RELATIONS

Brazil foreign minister views Alberto Fernández as a threat to Mercosur

03-09-2019 16:16 “It would be very frustrating, just as Mercosur enjoys its best moment in 30 years, to have an Argentine government that might bring setbacks,” says Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo.

FROM A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

Braxit, as well as Brexit? Mercosur and Argentina

31-08-2019 01:00 It might be an exaggeration to talk of “Braxit” but Brazil has been conveying the impression that it has outgrown Mercosur throughout this century and not just now.

by Michael Soltys

MERCOSUR

Norway says timing of EFTA-Mercosur pact 'awful'

27-08-2019 12:45 Norway, which is part of European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA) grouping four non-EU members, on Tuesday regretted the "awful timing" of a trade pact with Mercosur, as fires rage in the Amazon.

KEY STORIES

Aug 19th-25th: What We Learned This Week

24-08-2019 09:14 What has caught out attention the past week?

TRADE DEALS

Mercosur reaches EFTA trade deal with European countries

23-08-2019 22:13 The agreement with the European Free Trade Association formed by Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, comes two months after Mercosur sealed a landmark trade deal with the European Union.

AMAZON IN FLAMES

Global outrage forces Bolsonaro to act, sending Army to contain Amazon fires

23-08-2019 16:01 Under increasing international pressure to contain record numbers of fires in the Amazon, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said Friday he might send the military to battle the massive blazes.

AMAZON IN FLAMES

Ireland may withold EU-Mercosur deal support over Amazon fires

23-08-2019 14:03 "There is no way that Ireland will vote for the EU-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement if Brazil does not honour its environmental commitments," says Prime Minister Leo Varadkar

OPINION

Leonid Bershidsky: The EU can push Bolsonaro to save the Amazon

23-08-2019 13:59 It’s appropriate for Macron, Merkel and other European leaders to reconsider the Mercosur trade agreement in response to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s behaviour.

DEAL IN DOUBT

Macron: France won't back EU-Mercosur deal over Bolsonaro's climate 'lies'

23-08-2019 10:19 Outraged over the Amazon fires, French president brands Brazilian counterpart a liar and threatens to block EU-Mercosur trade deal "under these conditions."

PASO FALL-OUT

Alberto Fernández casts doubt over Mercosur's trade deal with European Union

13-08-2019 17:45 Frente de Todos leader questions European Union's trade deal with the South American trade bloc that was signed in June but not yet ratified.

TRADE DEALS

Trump says US to begin working on free-trade deal with Brazil

30-07-2019 15:46 “We’re going to work on a free-trade agreement with Brazil,” US president tells reporters in Washington

Mercosur summit

Piñera, Macri discuss dangers of populist 'snake charmers' in LatAm

18-07-2019 09:09 Mauricio Macri shares the stage with his Chilean par Sebastián Piñera at the Mercosur summit to discuss politics in Latin America.

Mercosur Summit

Mercosur calls for new elections in Venezuela at summit

17-07-2019 18:18 Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro also borrowed a slogan from US President Donald Trump.

MERCOSUR

Paraguay seeks car deals with Mercosur neighbours as growth slows

17-07-2019 16:53 Paraguay remains only Mercosur without agreement on cars with rest of trade bloc, FM says

Mercosur Summit

Mercosur reborn with liberal orientation

16-07-2019 21:27 The current liberal economic consensus between Brazil and Argentina is ushering in a new era of trade for the South American trade bloc.

FREE-TRADE DEAL

EU slams 'misinformation' about Mercosur trade deal

15-07-2019 16:23 Accord has raised alarm in some European countries that the continent will be flooded with beef and other agricultural imports, subjecting domestic farmers to unfair competition and consumers to unsafe food.

BILATERAL TIES

Brazil’s Bolsonaro reaffirms his support for Macri's re-election

15-07-2019 08:52 “If people related to Cristina Kirchner, that are close to Lula, Dilma, etc., return to power, then I think Argentina will have serious problems,” Brazilian leader tells Clarín.

EU-Mercosur

Macron has 'questions' about various aspects of EU-Mercosur deal

10-07-2019 17:54 A spokesperson for the French government said that the French president still had lingering questions about “environmental” and “health” provisions as well as conditions regarding “sensitive sectors.”

argentina

Labour unions differ over agreement with the European Union

10-07-2019 13:33 While the CGT requested details and vowed to negotiate with the next government, El Frente Sindical denounced pushes for labor reform.

by Aurelio Tomás

BLOOMBERG

Latin America and free trade score a win with EU-Mercosur deal

09-07-2019 15:22 Who knew that even as China and the United States played chicken with international trade, 31 nations with a tenth of world population and a fourth of its wealth would agree to abide by global rules and swap goods freely across the Atlantic?

by Mac Margolis

NEW TRADE DEAL?

Mercosur seeking trade deal with US, government confirms

06-07-2019 08:27 Following in footsteps of accord with European Union, Argentina and Brazil reveals plans for ambitious new accord.

Mercosur

Brazil sees more trade deals for Mercosur bloc in 2019

02-07-2019 17:12 The historic trade deal has increased in the interest of other potential trade partners, according Brazilian officials.

KEY STORIES

June 24th-30th: What We Learned This Week?

29-06-2019 11:08 What has caught our eye the last seven days?

EU-MERCOSUR DEAL

Macri scores brownie points overseas

29-06-2019 10:16 It is important the Mercosur team make sure that the final conditions of the agreement generate opportunities rather than dependencies. It seems to be the case: falling tariffs for the industrial and agricultural sectors are what Latin America needs in order to take advantage of its competitive advantage.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

G20 SUMMIT

“Historic” EU-Mercosur trade deal gives Macri a G20 victory

29-06-2019 08:29 The deal was first proposed in 1999 but has been held up due to disagreements over agro-products. The deal must now be approved by the 28 EU-member states.

DEAL OR NO DEAL?

EU tells Macri, Bolsonaro: There's still work left to do on Mercosur trade deal

07-06-2019 10:19 EU officials brush off suggestions from presidents of Argentina and Brazil that a sweeping free-trade deal with the European bloc is close to being signed.

BILATERAL RELATIONS

Macri, Bolsonaro: Signing of EU-Mercosur free-trade deal is 'imminent'

06-06-2019 15:31 Controversial Brazilian leader visits Argentina for the first time as president, as protesters take to streets. Talks with President Macri focus on Mercosur, boosting respective economies and Venezuela.

BLOOMBERG

Alberto Fernández tells markets he won't lead Argentina into default

04-06-2019 12:58 Seeking to reassure investors, presidential hopeful tells reporters he won’t lead the country into default if he wins the presidential election in October.

POLITICS

Macri and Bolsonaro will work together to modernise Mercosur, boost economies

16-01-2019 17:07 In their first face-to-face meeting as presidents, the leaders agreed to cooperate on a range of key economic issues.

by Anna Laffrey

BILATERAL RELATIONS

Relations with Brazil face uncertain future in Bolsonaro era

03-11-2018 10:17 Brazil’s incoming government has sparked controversy by casting a veil of uncertainty over its future relations with Argentina and the Mercosur trade bloc.

by Giulia Petroni