News of trade

Cuba protests fanned by worst economic crisis since fall of USSR

16-07-2021 03:00 Cuba's deepest economic crisis since the collapse of the Soviet Union, a spike in Covid-19 infections, power blackouts and increased use of social media all helped fan discontent with the 62-year-old communist regime.

Fernández criticises 'inhumane' trade embargo against Cuba

13-07-2021 16:37 President Alberto Fernández delivers his first comments on protests in Cuba. “I don't know what is happening, but let’s end the blockade,” he says.

Unions demanding vaccines strike at Argentina's soy ports

20-05-2021 11:23 Trade unions go on strike, the latest in a string of protests by workers demanding vaccination against Covid-19.

WTO deal 'doable' to stop subsidies that lead to over-fishing

11-05-2021 13:48 After two decades of talks at the World Trade Organization towards banning subsidies that contribute to over-fishing, Colombian ambassador Santiago Wills said Tuesday that a deal could be within reach.

Mercosur’s murky future

27-03-2021 07:27 Mercosur will have problems selling itself to the rest of the world while it cannot sell to itself.

by Michael Soltys

EU vaccine export-vetting scheme: 5 things to know

24-03-2021 12:47 The EU's Covid-19 vaccine export vetting scheme means companies making vaccines in the EU must ask for approval to export doses to non-EU countries. But how does it work?

More than 450 NGOs, groups condemn ‘obsolete’ EU-Mercosur trade deal

16-03-2021 17:26 More than 450 civil society groups, associations and NGOs call on Mercosur, European Union to “abandon” controversial free-trade deal.

Fernando Henrique Cardoso: ‘There are times which require us to move actively towards equality’

06-03-2021 08:40 Former Brazil president – the country’s first to be re-elected for a subsequent term – discusses Jair Bolsonaro, inequality, poverty and what it means a social democrat in the 21st century.

by Jorge Fontevecchia

Trade volume fell 14.9% in 2020, but with US$12.5B surplus

28-01-2021 16:43 Trade volume last year totalled US$97.24 billion, 14.9% down from the previous year, but with surplus of US$12.528 billion.

Argentina posts first trade deficit since 2018 after port strike

27-01-2021 11:08 Country recorded a trade deficit of US$364 million in December, government data published Tuesday showed. While imports grew 25% in annual terms driven by an economic recovery, exports slumped by 34%.

British, Euro leaders sign Brexit deal as MPs approve ratification

30-12-2020 14:15 Britain and the European Union sign post-Brexit trade deal, setting their seal on a drawn-out divorce just hours before the looming deadline.

UK-EU agree historic post-Brexit trade deal

26-12-2020 10:20 Britain and the European Union struck a post-Brexit trade deal on Christmas Eve that they hope will cushion the economic blow of the UK’s imminent departure from the bloc after months of tortuous negotiations.

Latin America watches on as United States heads to the polls

31-10-2020 10:36 With the region facing unprecedented economic and health concerns, as well as the issue of China’s increasing presence, Tuesday’s election could set the tone for the next phase of US-Latin America relations.

by Jennifer Heiman & Anina Hoffman

Felipe Solá: Argentina won’t stop or reject EU-Mercosur trade deal

01-10-2020 19:59 Foreign minister says country has “changed stance” on free-trade agreement and will debate it in Congress when concerns over environmental

by Fermin Koop

France says opposes EU-Mercosur trade deal over deforestation concerns

18-09-2020 10:38 France opposed to free-trade deal in its current form due to "major" concerns about deforestation in the region, the government said on Friday.

In midst of global recession, Argentina sets out in search of new markets

15-09-2020 18:16 Argentina is looking for new markets for its products in a world sunk in recession. The goal: to raise annual exports from US$65 to US$100 billion, according to government official Jorge Neme.

Brazil, Argentina vow to put tensions aside amid deep slump

21-08-2020 03:49 Argentina's new ambassador to Brazil, veteran Peronist Daniel Scioli, presents credentials to President Jair Bolsonaro in Brasilia.

Alberto Fernández planning 'strategic trip' to China in November

19-08-2020 22:44 Peronist leader eyeing potential trip to Asian powerhouse in November. Multi-billion-dollar agreements and the coronavirus pandemic lead agenda for talks with Argentina's leading trade partner.

by Juan Luis González

Mafia fugitives arrested in Palermo in drug-smuggling sting

24-07-2020 16:42 Three alleged members of the Calabrian 'Ndrangheta mafia organisation were arrested in Buenos Aires last week and are now being processed for extradition to Italy. The sting was part of a larger Interpol investigation of 45 members of the organisation who are spread across the world.

EU watchdog opens probe into Mercosur trade deal

10-07-2020 12:16 EU Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly confirms investigation will be opened into historic trade deal with Mercosur, after environmental and rights groups complained that the deal does not respect the EU’s legal obligations.