News of trade

TRADE DEALS

Mercosur reaches EFTA trade deal with European countries

Yesterday 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.

TRADE WAR

Trump raises tariffs on Chinese goods as trade war escalates

Yesterday 20:34 The US president said he would raise tariffs on Chinese goods to 30 percent in response to China's tax increase on US products.

AMAZON IN FLAMES

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

Yesterday 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

Yesterday 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

Yesterday 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'

Yesterday 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."

BLOOMBERG

China boosts Brazil soy imports as Argentina hoards crops

16-08-2019 14:26 Chinese companies purchased between 1.5 and 2 million metric tonnes of soy as Argentine farmers withhold beans to stave off currency fall.

Argentina-Brazil

Brazil-Argentina ties sour as Bolsonaro fumes over primary vote

14-08-2019 12:14 President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro expressed his discontent over the triumph of Kirchnerism in Sunday’s primaries. Though different in style, Mauricio Macri and Bolsonaro had similar economic goals.

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.

BLOOMBERG

China to look beyond Brazil to Argentina for soy, as trade war rages

08-08-2019 09:13 After Donald Trump escalated trade spat last week, the Asian nation halted its purchases of US farm goods. That leaves few alternatives to Brazil. Argentina may be one option, but farmers there are currently hoarding beans amid upcoming elections.

BLOOMBERG

Trump hints at more trade aid for farmers, as China trade war drags on

06-08-2019 16:02 With Beijing and Washington at odds, Argentine farmers are capturing larger shares of soybean sales to China, the largest export market for the oilseed.

BLOOMBERG

Agility is the watchword as trade tensions jolt emerging markets

05-08-2019 12:34 The Chinese yuan fell to 7 against the US dollar as the global stock index has lowest close since January.

BEEF TRADE

Trump says new agreement with EU will boost beef exports

02-08-2019 19:16 The US President expects quick approval from the EU amid his growing trade war with China.

US-BRAZILIAN RELATIONS

Trump boosts Brazil's status as 'major Non-NATO military ally' of US

01-08-2019 00:08 Moves eases path for the Latin American giant to buy more sophisticated weaponry from Washington.

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

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.

GLOBAL ECONOMY

Trade is still unbalanced and tariffs aren't the fix, IMF says

17-07-2019 16:43 The IMF urged countries on Wednesday to "avoid policies that distort trade."

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.

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 Marc Margolis

BLOOMBERG

Mercosur eyes trade deal with United States after securing EU accord

04-07-2019 14:12 President Mauricio Macri and Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie reveal that Argentina and Brazil, the two largest members of the Mercosur, are talking about a potential trade deal with the world’s largest consumer market.

G20 SUMMIT

G20 finance officials pledge to protect global growth

10-06-2019 09:54 Finance ministers and central bank chiefs from the Group of 20 major economies wrapped up a meeting in Japan on Sunday with a pledge to use all the policies they can to protect global growth from disruptions.

BLOOMBERG

A common Brazil-Argentina currency? A 'distant mirage' for now

10-06-2019 09:09 Worried about possible noise caused by the discussion, Brazil’s Central Bank issued a statement late at night on Thursday denying there are ongoing plans or even studies for a monetary union with Argentina.

BILATERAL RELATIONS

Colombia's Duque searching for trade, investment on trip to Argentina

10-06-2019 00:22 Colombian leader had dinner with President Macri on Sunday night after arriving in Buenos Aires. Monday's activities will be focused on trade and investment opportunities.

BOLSONARO IN ARGENTINA

Bolsonaro and Macri boost ties as election looms

08-06-2019 10:56 Outspoken Brazilian leader pays first visit to Argentina, with EU-Mercosur deal and common currency on the agenda.

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.

TRADE WARS & TARIFFS

Donald Trump says tariffs 'likely,' but Mexican government predicts a deal

04-06-2019 14:08 As trade wars continue to dominate the international agenda, US leader said Tuesday that the parties would try to work something out, but continued to dangle the threat of tariffs to force Mexico's hand.

BLOOMBERG

Investors seek relief as trade threats rock emerging markets

04-06-2019 13:37 The first major signs that Argentina is recovering from a recession may appear in construction and industrial activity data for April on Wednesday. But amid rising global risks, such as Brazil’s slowdown, the numbers could instead confirm fears of a delayed or weak recovery.

Bloomberg

Lost decade spectre haunts Latin America as big economies falter

28-05-2019 10:42 Latin America – hit by simultaneous contractions in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico – has expanded only 0.7% a year on average during the past few years – barely enough to keep up with population growth.

BLOOMBERG

As new Cold War looms, China struggles to grasp Trump's end game

23-05-2019 17:37 Uncertainty over whether US president is simply ramping up threats before ultimately reaching a deal, or if the US is fundamentally looking to curb China’s rise as a global superpower. Washington, it seems, isn't sure either.

ARRESTS

US sanctions Argentina-based online pharmacy Goldpharma

23-05-2019 14:50 Online pharmacy Goldpharma and eight Argentine citizens designated as significant foreign narcotics-traffickers by US officials for allegedly selling illicit opioids to customers located in the United States. Local authorities arrest five people, including three who were requested by the United States.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Japan’s ambassador hails ‘golden years’ of bilateral relations

17-11-2018 11:44 Noriteru Fukushima celebrated the birthday of Emperor Akihito with special guests

ECONOMY

Government seeks currency swap from China to boost reserves

10-11-2018 10:58 Officials travelled to China this week, seeking to agree an extension to a currency swap between both countries: a way to boost the Central Bank’s foreign currency reserves.

ECONOMIC QUESTIONS

Cause I’m the taxman

27-10-2018 08:41 Last month’s trade surplus was certainly welcome news after 20 months in the red – the result of recession and devaluation rather than the protectionism espoused by Donald Trump.

by Michael Soltys

G20 SUMMIT

Trade conflicts loom large over G20 summit

21-07-2018 10:19 Global trade conflicts triggered by the protectionist policies of US President Donald Trump are set to dominate this weekend’s meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank chiefs in Buenos Aires.

WASHINGTON GOES IT ALONE

Trump’s tariffs leave allies seeking new friends

02-06-2018 09:26 UY president undermines longstanding alliances by slapping key allies and trading partners — Canada, Mexico and the EU — with tariffs on steel and aluminum. All vow to retaliate by penalising US products in response.

TRUMP TARIFFS

Spectre of trade war after US tariffs on EU, Mexico, Canada

31-05-2018 12:46 US announces it will impose tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from Europe, Mexico and Canada after failing to win concessions from the US allies. Europe and Mexico pledged to retaliate quickly.

GUEST VOICE

New Zealand: Aotearoa – the Land of the Long White Cloud

26-05-2018 11:17 New Zealand's Ambassador to Argentina Raylene Liufalani writes for the Times about a bright future for New Zealand-Argentine relations.

Export duties

Editorial: No balanced budget without balanced taxation

26-05-2018 08:30 Macri began his presidency with the immediate abolition of export duties on all farm produce and their phased elimination in the case of soy but now shows signs of leaning heavily on the sector.

TRADE AND FOREIGN RELATIONS

Macri extends hand to China as trade deficit grows

05-05-2018 21:45 Relations between two nations have picked up dramatically since President Mauricio Macri’s altered his initial scepticism toward Beijing – today, China is Argentina’s secondlargest trade partner and a crucial source of investment. But experts are observing the growing trade deficit between the two countries, one which reached US$2.6 billion in the first quarter of the year alone and looks set to widen further.

by Fermin Koop

30-day reprieve

Trade nerves: Argentina crosses fingers for aluminium, steel tariff exemption

01-05-2018 11:35 Washington has “agreements in principle” with Argentina, Australia and Brazil, “the details of which will be finalized shortly”, a White House statement said.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

INDEC: Economic activity grew 5.1% in February

25-04-2018 08:57 he nation’s trade balance closed in March with a deficit of US$611 million, INDEC also reported.

In Tucumán province

Macri to celebrate return of lemon exports to US market following 17-year absence

18-04-2018 12:15 As a result of trade restrictions, Argentina has not exported lemons to the United States since 2001.

CHINESE HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS CLEARED

China meat export deal to be finalised in May: ambassador

16-04-2018 09:25 Argentina had a US $4.5 billion trade deficit with China last year. “We want to strike a balance,” Chinese Ambassador to Argentina Yang Wanming said.

by Patricia Valli

SPANISH PM RAJOY VISITS BA

Macri, Rajoy celebrate 'recomposition' of Argentina-Spain relationship

10-04-2018 20:30 Macri held a private meeting with 10 Spanish business leaders following his presentation at the Alvear Hotel in Puerto Madero. Their concerns centered around Argentina’s chronic inflation.

UNITED STATES V CHINA

China slaps retaliatory tariffs on 128 US products

02-04-2018 16:00 Beijing raises tariffs on US pork, fruit in trade dispute as fears of a full-blown trade war with Washington creep closer.

REACTION TO TARIFFS

World stock markets tumble on Trump trade war fears

23-03-2018 08:10 Asian stock markets were the heaviest fallers, playing catch-up after European indices and Wall Street had already slumped in Thursday trading on the latest developments.

G20 Argentina 2018

Relief from Trump tariffs major talking point at G20, AP sources say

19-03-2018 19:11 Several Latin American countries have reached out to the US president in the hopes of gaining an exemption. Dujovne spoke with US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin on Monday.

G20 Argentina 2018

G20 ministers tackle tariffs, tech and taxes in first major meeting in Argentina

19-03-2018 14:32 The showrunner's of the world's largest 20 economies meet this week in Buenos Aires with the shadow of a potential trade war looming over their heads.