News of trade

Three decades after Pablo Escobar's death, drugs ravage Medellín

10-05-2022 17:03 Three decades after cartel boss Pablo Escobar was shot dead by police on a rooftop in Medellín, the very city he had sought to uplift with drug money is being ravaged by it, having become the epicentre of the domestic drug trade.

Global grain shortage an opportunity for Argentina's 'green gold'

06-05-2022 15:48 Soybean harvest will be smaller than last year, but it will bring in record prices as a result of Russia's attack on Ukraine. Agro-industrial exports could reach as high as US$41 billion this year, according to experts.

Government suspends soybean exports as prices rise

14-03-2022 13:09 Argentina's government announced on Monday it had suspended exports of soybean flour and oil amid rumours it's planning to hike taxes due to soaring primary material costs.

The carry trade is minting big returns in Latin America again

09-02-2022 15:32 The carry trade is roaring back in Latin America, home to some of the world’s most aggressive inflation-fighting central banks.

Lunch with Putin in Russia, trips to China and Barbados – details emerge of president’s next trip

24-01-2022 22:16 President Alberto Fernández's upcoming tour will see him hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of Russia and China. A meeting with Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has also been lined up, according to diplomatic sources.

Argentina's trade surplus up by 17.7% in 2021

21-01-2022 22:49 Argentina closed out 2021 with a trade volume of US$141 billion, its biggest since 2013, and a surplus of almost US$15 billion, 17% higher than the previous year.

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.

Maduro: Venezuela and Colombia need to 'normalise' ties

21-10-2021 11:11 Nicolás Maduro calls for the normalisation of trade and diplomatic relations with Colombia, which have been non-existent since 2019 when the government refused to recognise him as Venezuela's leader.

Importing no less important

09-10-2021 12:12 Everybody hails the importance of exports. Imports have no such luck.

by Michael Soltys

Argentina, Brazil agree to reduce Mercosur's Common External Tariff

08-10-2021 19:43 Brazil and Argentina agree to reduce Mercosur's common external tariff by 10% "on a very broad universe of products."

Macron says France 'will continue' to oppose EU-Mercosur trade deal

03-09-2021 21:31 French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that Paris maintains its opposition to the trade agreement agreed between the European Union and Mercosur.

President Fernández to host Lacalle Pou amid Mercosur tensions

12-08-2021 14:39 Alberto Fernández will host Luis Lacalle Pou at the Olivos presidential residence on Friday, with tensions over Mercosur's future likely to be discussed.

US sanctions Cuba for repressing protests, Biden warns more to come

23-07-2021 02:58 US President Joe Biden warns sanctions on Cuba's defence minister and a special forces unit are "just the beginning" of punitive measures against Havana.

Felipe Solá: Brazil's 'hostile attitude has killed debate within Mercosur'

22-07-2021 22:01 Argentina’s foreign minister slams Brazilian government during visit to Rio to mark 30th anniversary of nuclear accord between two nations.

Cracks emerge in Mercosur trade bloc as Uruguay looks to go it alone

09-07-2021 03:18 Deep cracks emerge in Mercosur trade bloc, as Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou says he wants to negotiate trade deals without approval from other member nations.

Mercosur’s glitch-plagued summit puts spotlight on trade divide

09-07-2021 02:58 Luis Lacalle Pou's new trade strategy unable to win broad support among bloc's members. Parallel initiative backed by Brazil and Uruguay to reduce Mercosur's common external tariff also fails to advance.

Australia’s spat with China opens door for grain rival Argentina

04-05-2021 21:48 Farmers in Argentina are pouncing on a trade feud between grain rival Australia and voracious crop buyer China.

Mercosur’s future up for debate at key meeting

01-05-2021 00:21 Member nations agree to debate ‘flexibilisation’ of bloc’s rules at key meeting in May. Uruguay continues to push for liberalisation of tariffs, rules on free-trade deals.

Trade and Covid-19 vaccines top agenda for Mercosur summit

23-03-2021 13:22 Mercosur’s member nations will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the bloc's founding at a key summit this Friday, with the clear differences between them more than evident.

by Mariano Beldyk

UK promises ‘permanent’ Malvinas military presence, angering Argentina

19-03-2021 15:00 Foreign Ministry decries Britain’s “traditional colonialist view” over disputed islands, following publication of new UK security and defence review.