MERCOSUR-EFTA AGREEMENT Mercosur and EFTA sign free-trade deal in Rio de Janeiro Today 18:42 Deal creates a market of 300 million people and covers some US$4 trillion in GDP; Brazil brands it a “clear signal” against US protectionism led by Trump.
BONDS & MARKETS Foreign investors with Argentina FOMO pile into Brazil stocks Today 11:35 Afraid of missing out on an Argentina-like rally, investors are piling into Brazil on bets that a business-friendly candidate will win next year’s election.
EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL EU pushes ahead with bid to ratify Mercosur free-trade deal 03-09-2025 14:50 Agreement needs approval of the European Parliament and a qualified majority of its 27 member states.
EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL EU presents Mercosur deal for member states' approval 03-09-2025 11:23 Agreement would form a 700-million-customer free-trade area – the world's biggest – but it still faces opposition in Europe over agricultural concerns.
OIL & GAS Uruguay to pitch pipeline route for Vaca Muerta’s natural gas 02-09-2025 14:25 Uruguay to pitch a natural gas pipeline through its territory that would link Argentina’s Vaca Muerta shale deposit with Brazil.
POLITICS IN BRAZIL Police in Brazil say Bolsonaro drafted asylum plea to Milei in 2024 20-08-2025 22:37 Brazilian police claim that ex-president Jair Bolsonaro drafted request asylum from Javier Milei in Argentina in February 2024 as coup probe against him gathered pace.
Interview Julio Bitelli: ‘I don’t rule out a Milei-Lula bilateral meeting’ 12-08-2025 14:19 Brazil's Ambassador in Argentina Julio Bitelli discusses bilateral relations, commercial ties and whether the leaders of the two presidents will ever meet. by Pablo Varela
Agriculture Trump urges China to quadruple US soy buying, lifting prices 11-08-2025 08:52 Donald Trump says he hopes China will massively step up its purchases of US soybeans.
ANALYSIS Lula hugs it out with Milei, but saves warm embrace for Fernández de Kirchner 03-07-2025 18:43 The sharp divides roiling Latin American politics were visible in a pair of hugs.
MERCOSUR TRADE TALKS Mercosur, European EFTA bloc conclude talks on free-trade deal 02-07-2025 19:10 Mercosur and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) close negotiations over a free-trade agreement.
MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL Swiss-Norway group and South America’s Mercosur agree on free-trade deal 02-07-2025 18:17 European Free Trade Association of Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland finalise free-trade agreement with Mercosur bloc.
POLITICS & COURTS Court approves Lula’s visit to house-bound Fernández de Kirchner 02-07-2025 14:11 Federal judge approves Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s request for Brazil’s leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to visit her in Buenos Aires while she’s under house arrest.
CRISTINA & THE COURTS Fernández de Kirchner seeks permission for Lula visit under house arrest 01-07-2025 21:43 Cristina Fernández de Kirchner requests permission to host Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for a visit while serving her six-year jail term under house arrest.
MERCOSUR SUMMIT IN BUENOS AIRES Milei to host Mercosur presidents amid tensions with Lula 29-06-2025 11:54 President will lead this week’s two-day two summit in Buenos Aires; Argentina’s leader to again push for a liberal shift in the South American trade bloc’s future.
FOREIGN POLICY With same demands, isolated Milei prepares for Mercosur summit 26-06-2025 18:51 No bilateral meetings anticipated, but at the upcoming summit in Buenos Aires, there could be clashes with Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva – if not over their stance regarding the international situation involving Israel and Iran, then over the Brazilian leader’s potential visit to see Cristina Fernández de Kirchner serving house arrest.
WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST Argentina raises security threat level amid Iran conflict 24-06-2025 10:14 Security was officially stepped up last Saturday following US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. Argentine embassies across the Middle East are now on ‘high’ alert. by Walter Curia
FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP CWC risks deepening inequality in Latin American football 11-06-2025 23:02 Imbalances are only likely to grow in Latin American football as a result of the FIFA Club World Cup.
ENERGY & GAS Paraguay pitches Argentina, Brazil on natural gas pipeline plan 03-06-2025 20:22 Paraguay is lobbying Argentina and Brazil to sign agreements signalling their political support for a proposed natural gas pipeline linking the three countries
BUSINESS & FINANCE MercadoLibre CEO steps aside after 25 years for chairman job 22-05-2025 08:53 Billionaire founder Marcos Galperin will step down as CEO of e-commerce and financial services giant Mercado Libre in January 2026.
REWARD OFFERED US reward for info on Hezbollah at Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay border 19-05-2025 18:05 United States announces it is offering up to US$10 million for information on Hezbollah’s financial networks in the Triple Border region.
EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL Merz tells France Mercosur trade deal must be ratified 'quickly' 07-05-2025 11:13 New German chancellor Friedrich Merz says EU countries should "quickly" ratify a free-trade deal with the Mercosur bloc that has met with staunch opposition from France.
Supply lines Latin America is master of its markets, not Trump, Bradesco says 23-04-2025 22:34 Outlook for Latin American shares depends more on local elections and fiscal and monetary policy than it does Donald Trump’s tariff war.
AGRICULTURE & LIVESTOCK From meat to grains, trade war is a boon to Brazil and Argentina 22-04-2025 14:38 Escalating tensions between the United States and China have created an opening for Brazil and Argentina to ramp up exports.
GEOPOLITICS & DIPLOMACY Trump’s China trade war is forcing Latin America to pick a side 15-04-2025 14:02 Intensifying battle between world’s two largest economies has left governments grappling with the reality that their days of doing big business with Beijing without serious blowback from Washington are numbered.
INFRASTRUCTURE Chile unveils ‘bioceanic road corridor’ plan to fanfare 15-04-2025 13:18 President Gabriel Boric presents massive infrastructure project – the cost of which was not revealed – that would link the north of Chile with Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay to form a new trade route between the Atlantic and the Asia-Pacific.
MERCOSUR SUMMIT Mercosur to expand common tariff exemptions as trade war rages 11-04-2025 17:30 Mercosur countries have decided to relax common external tariffs on 50 products of the choice of each of its members, giving them more flexibility to negotiate deals.
Foreign policy & diplomacy Milei hails shared values during talks with Paraguay’s Peña 09-04-2025 21:32 President met up with his Paraguayan counterpart, holding various meetings in Asunción during brief overseas trip.
BUSINESS & INVESTMENT Mercado Libre to invest US$2.6 billion in Argentina this year 09-04-2025 17:31 US$2.6-billion investment marks a 53% increase on last year’s figure and forms part of a wider regional expansion drive.
Interview Brazilian ambassador: Lula-Milei differences have 'minimal effect on bilateral relations’ 05-04-2025 06:34 Brazil’s Ambassador to Argentina on managing bilateral relations, despite the enmity between Javier Milei and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Julio Bitelli on Jair Bolsonaro’s trial, the Malvinas issue, the flirtation between Argentina and the United States, the trade imbalance and the importance of Vaca Muerta. by Cecilia Degl'Innocenti
International football Rout of Brazil shows 2026 World Cup hopes are very much alive 28-03-2025 12:39 Tuesday's showing against Brazil, in particular, was as strong a statement of intent from Lionel Scaloni’s side as one could wish to envision. by Dan Edwards
INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL At present, the Albiceleste are unstoppable – even without Messi 27-03-2025 16:10 Why Argentina is doing well without superstar skipper Messi and coach Lionel Scaloni is doing everything right.
WORLD CUP QUALIFYING Argentina thrash Brazil, clinch 2026 World Cup qualification 25-03-2025 22:35 Goals from Julián Álvarez, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister and Giovani Simeone secure a convincing 3-1 win over Brazil as Albiceleste becomes first South American side to book its place at the World Cup 2026.
EMBASSY SCANDAL IN CARACAS The year-long stand-off between five prisoners in a mansion and Maduro's regime 21-03-2025 10:20 Members of Venezuela’s opposition are trapped in Argentina's Embassy in Caracas, living on rainwater and sardines, as government forces stand watch.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS Argentina records highest monthly trade deficit with Brazil in seven years 13-02-2025 00:17 Bilateral trade between the two Mercosur partners was US$2.098 billion last month, up 34.1% from the previous January, but imports surge takes Argentina into negative territory.
AGRICULTURE Milei’s plan to boost farm exports: stop ships from running aground 12-02-2025 11:41 Argentina’s government is moving to give the neglected Paraná waterway its first major upgrade in nearly two decades. But time is running out for the fixes to be made.
FOREIGN POLICY & SECURITY Argentina may send Armed Forces to beef up Triple Frontier security 30-01-2025 00:35 Border clampdown takes Brazil by surprise, with officials learning of move via media; Security, Defence Ministries fine-tuning details to determine number of troops and where they will be deployed.
TOURISM & TRAVEL Argentina’s rich neighbours cut back on visits due to strong peso 28-01-2025 09:38 Tourists visiting from Uruguay and Chile fell at least 30% in December from a year ago, according to INDEC.
EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL EU-Mercosur free-trade deal 'not concluded,' says Macron 06-01-2025 16:38 French President Emmanuel Macron declares that the controversial free-trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc is "not concluded."
Maduro clampdown in Venezuela Colombia offers to safeguard Maduro foes as stand-off deepens 19-12-2024 08:33 Colombia offers to take custody of Argentina’s Embassy in Caracas, where six of opposition leader María Corina Machado’s aides have been sheltering since March.
CRIME & SECURITY Interpol arrests 26 on triple border for deforestation, trafficking of native trees 17-12-2024 08:32 Paraguayan police arrest 26 people in Interpol-led operation for illegal deforestation and trafficking of native quebracho wood trees on the border between Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.
BILATERAL RELATIONS Argentina demands Maduro grant safe passsage to asylum seekers 09-12-2024 12:24 Argentina calls on Venezuelan government to release six opposition leaders who are sheltering from authorities at its Embassy in Caracas.
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 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.
Lula sparks market rout Lula ignores aides and sparks market rout that threatens economy 02-12-2024 12:32 Brazil's president Lula da Silva ignored his economic aides warning to not ignite any economic plans that will spark a selloff, and markets plunged immediately. The plan calls for limiting hikes to the minimum wage, earnings for the highest-paid civil servants and salary bonuses to low-income workers.
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.
DIPLOMATIC ROW Venezuela denies ‘besieging’ Argentina’s Embassy in Caracas 25-11-2024 20:43 Venezuela's Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello denies government is besieging Argentina’s Embassy in Caracas.
BEYOND THE HEADLINES G20 or 19+1? 23-11-2024 06:00 Argentina was an odd man out in the G20 long before the shaggy libertarian embarked on his solitary crusade against Agenda 2030. by Michael Soltys
ANALYSING ARGENTINA Milei and his Doppelganger 23-11-2024 06:00 There may be two Javier Mileis. One lives on Planet Earth and engages with people he said he loathed, and another fights fantasy battles in a parallel reality on social media. Which one will prevail? by Marcelo J. García