News of free trade

Mercosur seeking ‘revised agreement’ with EU, says Cafiero

01-02-2023 18:58 Foreign minister says ‘assymetries’ in deal must be resolved; Top EU officials pinpoint July summit in Brussels as potential completion date.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

EU, Mercosur trade deal possible soon, says European official

31-01-2023 13:14 European Union hopes to finalise trade deal with Mercosur by July, says top EU official.

German chancellor in Buenos Aires

Fernández, Scholz meet with trade, investment, lithium on agenda

29-01-2023 10:56 Alberto Fernández and Olaf Scholz call for swift approval of stalled free-trade deal between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc; Two leaders ink agreements on lithium, investment and renewable energy.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

Fernández expects Mercosur, EU to close trade deal soon

29-01-2023 10:31 The Mercosur trade group and the European Union will reach a trade agreement soon, declares president during German chancellor's visit to Buenos Aires.

MERCOSUR TRADE BLOC

Mercosur members avoid rupture at summit as leaders voice concerns

07-12-2022 00:55 Summit ends with parties reiterating their differences over free-trade deals, as President Alberto Fernández accuses Uruguay’s Luis Lacalle Pou of wanting to ‘break up’ the Mercosur trade bloc.

Mercosur tensions

South American trade partners pile pressure on rebel Uruguay

05-12-2022 20:37 Three nations warn Uruguay’s move to chase trade deals without the agreement of its Mercosur partners risks undermining or rupturing customs union.

MERCOSUR TENSIONS

Mercosur’s future in balance as summit begins

05-12-2022 17:48 Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay reiterated their criticism of Uruguay on Monday over their partner’s willingness to negotiate agreements with countries outside the Mercosur bloc.

REGIONAL TRADE BLOC

Mercosur tensions rise as Uruguay seeks trade deal outside bloc

03-12-2022 08:19 Uruguay's move to join one of Asia's biggest pacts marks a rupture after years of Montevideo seeking a more open approach to international commerce by the group.

WORLD AFFAIRS

‘Latin America can feed more people,’ declares top EU official

27-10-2022 17:32 Foreign ministers from European Union and Latin American nations convene in Buenos Aires to strengthen multilateral ties.

EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL

EU ‘fully committed’ to Mercosur free-trade deal, says top official

24-10-2022 20:56 The European Union is “fully committed” to the stalled free-trade deal with the Mercosur bloc and must move ahead before “other actors intervene,” declares EU official Josep Borrell.

Mercosur summit

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.

Mercosur tensions

Argentina, Paraguay agree to review Mercosur's common external tariff

15-10-2021 20:33 Argentina and Paraguay agree to review Mercosur’s Common External Tariff – an issue that has sparked tensions within the trade bloc.

TRADE BLOC TENSIONS

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."

MERCOSUR TENSIONS

Brazil’s Guedes lets rip at Argentina, vows to ‘modernise’ Mercosur

01-10-2021 01:37 Brazilian Economy Minister Paulo Guedes says Argentina should "withdraw" from the Mercosur if President Alberto Fernández's government feels "uncomfortable" with Brasilia's plans to "modernise" the South American trade bloc.

MERCOSUR TENSIONS

Lacalle Pou: Uruguay and China in talks over bilateral free-trade deal

08-09-2021 16:28 Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou says his government is “in a hurry” to close a FTA with China – a development that’s sure to increase tensions with other Mercosur member states.

EU-MERCOSUR DEAL

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.

PRESIDENTIAL MEETING

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.

Mercosur in crisis

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.

MERCOSUR IN DISARRAY

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 IN DISARRAY

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.

IN-DEPTH: MERCOSUR

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.

MERCOSUR BLOC

Uruguay presents plan to make Mercosur trade talks more flexible

26-04-2021 15:19 According to the draft document released by the Foreign Ministry in Montevideo, the proposal would allow member states, under some conditions, to initiate negotiations "either as a group or individually."