News of mercosur

EU-Mercosur deal will 'mainly' benefit Europe, says Paraguay president

09-12-2024 11:16 New free-trade deal between the European Union and Mercosur bloc will "mainly" benefit Europe, says Paraguay's President Santiago Peña.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

Mercosur and EU announce agreement on free-trade deal

06-12-2024 13:02 Almost 25 years on from the first opening of negotiations, the the EU and Mercosur reach agreement for free-trade deal that will create a market exceeding 700 million people.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

EU reaches long-sought Mercosur deal despite French objections

06-12-2024 12:47 European Union and Mercosur bloc clinch trade deal despite objections of France, which will try to block process; Signing and ratification process could take as long as 18 months.

future of mercosur

Milei: Mercosur has ‘ended up becoming a prison’ for members

06-12-2024 12:28 Argentina’s President slams Mercosur protectionism at summit and calls for "new formula" for regional bloc, stating it has been a “stumbling block to the progress of Argentines.”

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

EU-Mercosur deal ‘in sight,’ says top European official

05-12-2024 20:49 Chances of a sealed deal seemed slim at press time as leaders in France, Italy renew criticism.

Mercosur Trade Deal

EU chief lands in South America to close contentious Mercosur deal

05-12-2024 13:21 EU chief Ursula von der Leyen lands in Montevideo at the LXV Mercosur Summit, where the goal is to hopefully close the Mercosur Trade Deal. With France's President Macron expressing his distaste, and Brazil's President Lula in support, there is much to discuss this week.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

EU nears deal with Mercosur as Von Der Leyen heads to summit

05-12-2024 09:02 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen due in Uruguay to attend Mercosur summit.

MERCOSUR SUMMIT IN MONTEVIDEO

Mercosur members eye sealing of 'historic' free-trade deal with EU

04-12-2024 15:09 Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay are hoping to announce a blockbuster trade deal with the European Union at a regional summit Friday.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

German FM says 'essential' to seal EU-Mercosur deal at Friday summit

03-12-2024 14:44 German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock says it is "essential" that the European Union to finalise a free-trade deal with Latin America's Mercosur this week.

'Pepe' Mujica interview

Mujica: Left’s return to power in Uruguay is ‘a farewell prize’

29-11-2024 11:40 José ‘Pepe’ Mujica is perhaps the most famous Uruguayan in the world, but that doesn't faze him. “I'm not a phenomenon; I'm an ordinary guy with some eccentricities,” says the 89-year-old former president.

ANALYSIS

Milei evaluates Argentina’s future in Mercosur

28-11-2024 15:36 Argentina's government is evaluating its future relationship with the Mercosur trade bloc – the plans it has in mind and the possibilities of a break-up.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

Lula: Brussels, not Paris, will decide EU-Mercosur trade deal

27-11-2024 23:29 Blockbuster deal between the 27-country European Union and Mercosur countries – Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay – will not be decided only by France, declares Lula.

EU-Mercosur Deal

Poland rejects EU-Mercosur deal in current form

26-11-2024 18:48 Poland's Prime Minister rejects the EU-Mercosur deal, joining France in opposition against the free trade deal with South American countries.

MERCOSUR SUMMIT

President Milei to attend first Mercosur Summit in Montevideo

26-11-2024 10:41 After his absence in Asunción, President Javier Milei is set to attend his first Mercosur summit in Montevideo next week; talks will focus on the long-stalled EU free trade deal, though Argentina's leader is expected to criticise the bloc's functioning.

FRENCH LEADER IN LATIN AMERICA

Macron praises EU-Chile trade agreement on Latin America tour

20-11-2024 20:53 French President Emmanuel Macron visits Chilean counterpart Gabriel Boric in Santiago on the last leg of a Latin America tour.

EU-Mercosur Deal

French farmers threaten 'chaos' over proposed EU-Mercosur deal

19-11-2024 13:19 Farmers protest against the free-trade agreement between the European Union and the Latin American countries of Mercosur, with Paris leading the resistance against ratification of the proposed deal.

FRENCH PRESIDENT IN BUENOS AIRES

Macron defends French farmers during talks with Milei

18-11-2024 10:30 French President Emmanuel Macron defends his nation's resistance to the proposed EU-Mercosur trade deal as he visits President Javier Milei in Buenos Aires.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

France says seeking to block EU-Mercosur pact by 'all means'

14-11-2024 13:41 European farmers protest against free-trade agreement with Mercosur bloc. French government attempt to block adoption of trade pact between EU and four South American countries.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

Blocking and Bargaining: France and farmers fight EU-Mercosur trade deal

13-11-2024 15:35 The EU-Mercosur trade deal, which would create the world’s largest free trade zone, is nearing potential ratification after 25 years of negotiation, despite fierce opposition from France and European farmers.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

New push for EU-South America trade deal despite French fury

13-11-2024 10:24 European Union and Mercosur blocs are reviving efforts to finalise an agreement by year’s end, aiming to create the largest free-trade zone globally. European leaders are pushing for swift progress, but France's resistance is becoming more vocal.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

France: EU-Mercosur deal will not be signed at G20 in Brazil

11-11-2024 14:06 France says the EU-Mercosur free-trade deal “will not be signed” at next week’s G20 Leaders Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

France seeks to rope in Poland to block EU-Mercosur free-trade deal

08-11-2024 19:40 France is hoping to persuade Poland into joining forces to block a sweeping trade deal between the European Union and Latin America’s Mercosur bloc.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

Delayed, stalled... but is EU-Mercosur free-trade deal imminent?

30-10-2024 19:58 Rumours are growing that the long-stalled, much-awaited free-trade deal between the European Union and Mercosur could be announced before the end of the year, perhaps even at next month's G20 summit in Brazil.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

French minister talks down rumours of imminent EU-Mercosur trade agreement

25-10-2024 21:03 French Minister for Foreign Trade Sophie Primas has revealed to AFP the possibility of an agreement in the coming weeks

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

EU ‘very close to closing’ agreement with Mercosur, says Spain PM

23-10-2024 16:20 The European Union is "very close to closing" the long-delayed free-trade agreement with Mercosur trade bloc, said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

'Off the record'

Domestic industry leaders fear impact of new import rules, EU-Mercosur deal

21-10-2024 06:29 Domestic business leaders warn lowering of tariffs, though beneficial to some sectors, could put national production at stake.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

Macron says free-trade deal with Mercosur is unfair for local farmers

02-10-2024 16:48 French President Emmanuel Macron again criticises Mercosur-European Union free-trade deal with, saying accord would put European companies and agricultural workers at a disadvantage.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

Germany's Scholz urges swift conclusion to EU-Mercosur trade deal

02-10-2024 12:11 "The Mercosur agreement is groundbreaking for diversifying and strengthening the resilience of our economy," states German chancellor as he appeals for a swift conclusion to long-stalled trade deal.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

Scholz makes fresh plea for speedy conclusion to Mercosur talks

02-10-2024 11:55 German Chancellor Olaf Scholz makes a fresh appeal for a swift conclusion to talks over "groundbreaking" EU-Merocosur trade deal.

EU-MERCOSUR AGREEMENT

President Milei talks Mercosur trade deal with EU's Ursula von der Leyen

25-09-2024 15:09 Argentina's head of state meets with President of the European Commission after his presentation at the UN General Assembly, with Ursula von der Leyen stressing "deep bonds and strong values."

MERCOSUR TENSIONS

Mercosur-China trade talks must address imbalance, Paraguay says

06-09-2024 11:59 Mercosur would be willing to negotiate a trade agreement with China if it addresses the lopsided commerce between the two trading partners, says Paraguay.

Mercosur trade bloc

Uruguay applauds Argentina’s shift of stance on Mercosur

05-09-2024 13:15 Argentina indicates it is willing to shift its stance on Mercosur trade bloc negotiations, drawing praise from Uruguay.

INTERVIEW / PERIODISMO PURO

Martin Schulz: ‘The result of the war in Ukraine is decisive for the future of the EU’

02-08-2024 07:05 Former President of the European Parliament, German ex-lawmaker and MEP Martin Schulz, a former president of the European Parliament, on politics in the Old Continent, the EU’s ties with Latin America and the global rise of the far right.

by Jorge Fontevecchia

EDITORIAL

Between Tucumán and Asunción

13-07-2024 07:44 President Milei’s decision to skip the Mercosur summit does more to compromise Argentina’s future than his photograph and 10-point pact does to advance it.

MERCOSUR SUMMIT

Mercosur leaders slam Milei's absence from summit

09-07-2024 09:44 Luis Inácio Lula da Silva, Luis Lacalle Pou and Santiago Peña criticise Argentine leaders decision not to attend a Mercosur presidential summit.

MERCOSUR TENSIONS

Lacalle Pou criticises Milei’s decision to skip Mercosur summit

08-07-2024 16:15 "The message is not the only important thing, the messenger is very important," declares Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou in response to Javier Milei's Mercosur summit.

MERCOSUR SUMMIT

Mondino tells Mercosur peers that bloc needs ‘adrenaline shock’

08-07-2024 13:03 Argentina’s Foreign Minister tells her Mercosur counterparts that trade bloc needs an “adrenaline shock” to realise its “untapped potential” – yet President Javier Milei still won’t attend presidential summit.

FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY

Milei takes his far-right roadshow to Lula’s backyard in Brazil

07-07-2024 08:42 In a Latin America dominated by leftists, Argentina's libertarian leader Javier Milei is all alone.

MERCOSUR TENSIONS

Milei chooses bath of conservative affection and rebuffs Mercosur

05-07-2024 11:33 President prefers a safe conservative conference in Brazil to a trip to Asunción for the Mercosur summit and a meeting with Lula.

Foreign relations & diplomacy

Brazil 'regrets' Milei's absence at upcoming Mercosur summit

04-07-2024 00:12 Senior Brazilian diplomat says her nation "regrets" President Javier Milei’s decision not to attend the upcoming Mercosur summit in Asunción.

FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY

Milei picks pro-Bolsonaro rally over Lula for first Brazil trip

01-07-2024 15:29 Javier Milei is finally making his first visit to Brazil – but instead of meeting President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, he will instead rally with his leftist counterpart’s biggest rival, Jair Bolsonaro.

FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY

Milei shuns Mercosur summit and awkward meet with Lula

01-07-2024 15:00 Argentina’s President Javier Milei pulls out of upcoming Mercosur summit in Asunción and potentially awkward meeting with Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

BILATERAL RELATIONS

Milei refuses to apologise to Lula and his ‘inflamed ego’

28-06-2024 14:02 President Javier Milei says he won't apologise to his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, branding him a"lefty" with an "inflamed ego.”

PRESIDENT IN GERMANY

Scholz, Milei demand swift deal on EU-Mercosur free-trade pact

23-06-2024 16:05 Chancellor Olaf Scholz received President Javier Milei for talks in Berlin on Sunday in which both leaders discussed closer economic cooperation on trade, renewable energies and climate protection.

FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY

Far-right surge in European elections may put EU-CELAC relations at risk

06-05-2024 16:13 A strengthening of the far right in upcoming European parliamentary elections could put the brakes on the EU's relations with Latin America and the Caribbean.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

EU-Mercosur deal is ‘win-win,’ says Poland’s ambassador to Argentina

03-05-2024 08:17 Aleksandra Piątkowska, Warsaw’s envoy in Buenos Aires, discusses the stalled free-trade deal between the Mercosur and European Union, bilateral relations with Argentina and the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

by Julia Oleszynska

EU-MERCOSUR DEAL

Mercosur deal is ‘absolute priority’ for the EU, says chief negotiator

24-04-2024 15:36 Rupert Schlegelmilch, the EU’s chief negotiator for a free-trade deal with Mercosur bloc, says he is hoping to close this deal “as soon as possible,” pinpointing “June or July” as a possible date.

FOREIGN POLICY & ECONOMY

Mondino: Mercosur must open up to ‘agreements with other countries’

17-04-2024 17:16 Argentina's Foreign Minister Diana Mondino calls for modernisation of Mercosur rules and backs push for free-trade deal with China.

EU-MERCOSUR DEAL

EU commission expresses 'frustration' over stalled EU-Mercosur trade deal

12-04-2024 09:41 European parliamentary delegation responsible for relations with Mercosur has failed to seal deal, much to the “frustration” of EU lawmakers.