INTERVIEW – PERIODISMO PURO Rafael Bielsa: ‘Alberto Fernández is very far from being a puppet’ 10-04-2021 07:42 Rafael Bielsa, Argentina’s current Ambassador to Chile, on the pandemic, the president, Peronism and bilateral relations. by Jorge Fontevecchia
THE WEEK Second wave jitters 03-04-2021 08:39 Covid cases in Argentina are picking up faster than ever amid fears of a second wave. It could be punishing for the government if the second wave turns ugly. by Martín Gambarotta
THE WEEK What we learned this week: March 20 to 27 27-03-2021 08:57 The pick of the stories that caught our eye over the last seven days in Argentina.
MERCOSUR AT 30 Highlights (and low points): Mercosur turns 30 27-03-2021 08:49 A free-trade agreement with the European Union which has yet to be implemented, an imperfect common external tariff, mounted with great difficulty – these factors and others mark the 30-year history of Mercosur, a mosaic of successes and inconclusive challenges.
THE WEEK Pay no more revisited 27-03-2021 08:18 The urgent question is whether CFK and Guzmán are on the same team and executing some kind of coordinated play to eventually force a deal with the IMF. by Martín Gambarotta
AND THAT REMINDS ME... 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
MERCOSUR AT 30: ANALYSIS Thirty years on since its founding, Mercosur faces uncertain future 27-03-2021 07:17 Regional bloc celebrates its 30th birthday weakened by differences, with its partners unprepared for post-pandemic world.
MERCOSUR SUMMIT Trade and Covid-19 vaccines top agenda for Mercosur summit 23-03-2021 13:22 Mercosur’s member nations will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the bloc's founding at a key summit this Friday, with the clear differences between them more than evident. by Mariano Beldyk
EU-MERCOSUR DEAL 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.
MERCOSUR SUMMIT No Bolsonaro in BA – Government takes Mercosur ceremony online 13-03-2021 15:50 Argentina has suspended a historic ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the Mercosur regional trade bloc, due to be held later this month, and will instead take it online.
MERCOSUR SUMMIT Bolsonaro in Buenos Aires: Brazil leader says yes to Mercosur summit 05-03-2021 02:39 Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro confirms he will travel to Buenos Aires on March 26 for the Mercosur summit, setting up his first face-to-face encounter with President Alberto Fernández.
MERCOSUR BLOC Brazil again pushes for loosening of Mercosur trade deal rules 27-02-2021 08:21 Bolsonaro set to visit Buenos Aires for trade bloc’s next summit; Brazilian foreign minister accuses ‘interest groups’ using the environment as ‘pretext’ to block ratification of EU-Mercosur deal.
EU-MERCOSUR DEAL France says won't ratify Mercosur trade deal in 'current form' 04-02-2021 17:01 France says it will not ratify trade deal between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc "in its current form."
ECONOMY Ship line-up swells as soy crushers extend strike 26-12-2020 10:31 Soybean crushers at export plants agreed to extend a strike over wages during the Christmas season.
Mercosur 'Distrust' of Brazil stalls EU-Mercosur trade deal 13-12-2020 19:45 Concerns over Amazon deforestation under Bolsonaro are delaying the ratification of a two-decades long negotiated trade deal between the European Union and Mercosur.
EU-MERCOSUR DEAL Without environmental guarantees, EU-Mercosur trade deal faces uncertain future 23-11-2020 15:51 Historic free-trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur regional bloc, announced more than a year ago after more than two decades of negotiations, stuck in limbo due to environmental concerns.
EU-MERCOSUR DEAL EU parks trade deal with Mercosur over environmental concerns 17-10-2020 09:56 More than 15 months ago, then-president Mauricio Macri hailed the sealing of the Mercosur bloc’s historic trade agreement with the European Union. Today, as European nations express environmental concerns, ratification isn’t even close to starting. by Fermin Koop
MERCOSUR 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
EU-MERCOSUR DEAL Brazil rejects deforestation concerns on EU-Mercosur deal 23-09-2020 16:12 Brazil hits back at European reluctance to finalise EU-Mercosur trade deal, saying a French report on environmental concerns is motivated by "protectionist interests."
EU-MERCOSUR DEAL Key EU states fear Mercosur pact may hurt Amazon 21-09-2020 08:22 EU commissioner admits not all EU nations "are aligned" on trade deal with Mercosur nations, as fears historic accord could hurt the Amazon grow.
EU-MERCOSUR DEAL 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.
MERCOSUR BLOC Lacalle Pou says EU-Mercosur deal 'advances' but not at 'expected speed' 03-09-2020 01:05 Uruguayan leader’s comments just the latest in a series indicating that momentum for the accord has slowed.
THE WEEK IN ARGENTINA What we learned this week: August 22 to 29 29-08-2020 09:39 Stories that caught our eye over the last seven days in Argentina.
EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL Merkel expresses 'significant doubts' over EU-Mercosur trade pact 21-08-2020 14:12 German chancellor expresses "significant doubts" over landmark EU-Mercosur free trade deal, citing concerns over the devastating deforestation of the Amazon rainforest.
BLOOMBERG Brazil says it’s prepared to deal with Biden 28-07-2020 22:36 Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo says Brasilia would have no problem dealing with Joe Biden, should he defeat Donald Trump in this year's US election.
EU-MERCOSUR TALKS 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.
THE LAST SEVEN DAYS What we learned this week: June 27 to July 4 04-07-2020 08:40 Stories that caught our eye over the last seven days in Argentina.
EDITORIAL Is isolation the best expression of independence? 04-07-2020 08:32 The pandemic is a curious ally of ultra-nationalism, feeding the notion that Covid-19 will destroy globalisation and the private sector in a world dictating a self-sufficiency of which very few countries can even dream.
ANALYSIS Sino-American dispute a looming threat for Argentina and Brazil 04-07-2020 07:57 The relationship between Buenos Aires and Brasilia is in intensive care and the lack of coordination between the two governments exposes the region to an external vulnerability – becoming a place where the US and China settle their differences. by Leandro Dario
MERCOSUR’S VIRTUAL SUMMIT Mercosur vows unity in face of pandemic, as Macron cools on trade deal 04-07-2020 07:49 President Alberto Fernández calls for unity in face of the coronavirus pandemic during virtual summit, as reports in France suggest Emmanuel Macron has gone cold on Mercosur-EU trade deal.
Mercosur negotiations Argentina on board for Mercosur trade talks after 'gradual change in discourse' 10-05-2020 10:00 A teleconference this Thursday assessed the courses of action on the Mercosur negotiations already concluded with the European Union, the ongoing negotiations with Canada, Korea, Singapore and Lebanon, and the deepening of agreements already signed with Israel and India.
OP-EDITORIAL Voluntary isolation 02-05-2020 11:09 With a trade volume of just over 30 percent of its economy, Argentina already ranks among the seven most- closed economies in the world – shutting it down yet further does not look like the way ahead.
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC As virus cases surge, Brazil starts to worry its neighbours 02-05-2020 10:21 Local Argentine officials say they are particularly worried about truck traffic from Brazil, their top trading partner.
LATIN AMERICA MERCOSUR BLOC Government says it’s not abandoning Mercosur, despite position on talks 02-05-2020 10:09 Foreign Minister Felipe Solá says Argentina is not “giving up its seat at the table.”
WEEK IN REVIEW May 2-May 9: What we learned this week 02-05-2020 09:44 Key stories from the last seven days in Argentina that caught our eyes
MERCOSUR More flexible trade rules await Mercosur after Argentina pullout 02-05-2020 08:46 Customs union or free-trade zone? ‘Big changes; could be on way for the Mercosur after government decides to walk away from future trade talks. by Fermin Koop
FUTURE OF MERCOSUR? EU 'welcomes' Argentina's commitment to Mercosur free-trade deal 28-04-2020 23:58 European Union pleased that Argentina remains engaged in talks over long-awaited free-trade deal, despite decision to withdraw from all future Mercosur trade talks.
Mercosur trade talks Mercosur talks complicated by Argentina's decision, says Paraguay 27-04-2020 12:59 With surprise on the part of the authorities and criticism from the industrial sector about the effectiveness of the economic integration project, the announcement by Argentina to abandon the negotiations being carried out by Mercosur was received in Paraguay.
MERCOSUR TRADE BLOC Opposition slams government's decision to pull out of Mercosur trade talks 26-04-2020 09:34 Citing economic policy priorities and the effects of the Covid-19 crisis, President Alberto Fernandez’s administration has withdrawn from ongoing and future talks involving the Mercosur trade bloc.
Mercosur's integration 'Very important' nations seeking Mercosur trade deals, says Uruguay official 09-03-2020 13:45 Potential trade partners are pursuing regional commercial bloc after a sweeping deal with the European Union showed most of its members are open to business, says Ernesto Talvi.
Free Trade EU believes Argentina and Mercosur will ratify agreement 26-02-2020 15:17 Brussels maintains that the free trade agreement is "very balanced" and will boost the growth of the economy.
URUGUAY FRONTIERS Uruguay's president-elect Lacalle Pou eager to attract foreigners 25-02-2020 18:41 Luis Lacalle Pou expresses determination to open up borders, so that thousands of foreigners can settle in his country. Uruguay's incoming leader also says nation will change position on Venezuela crisis.
Bloomberg Diplomatic dance: Solá heads to Brazil for meeting with Bolsonaro, Araujo 12-02-2020 08:15 Foreign minister hoping his Brazilian counterparts are also looking to turn a page, as region's top economics seek to heal diplomatic wounds.
TRADE TENSIONS Mercosur braces for change amid calls for new trade rules 18-01-2020 09:19 Regional trade bloc faces uncertain future, with Argentina now in the minority and Uruguay and Brazil seeking the right to secure trade deals outside the bloc’s remit by Fermin Koop
ARGENTINA-BRAZIL RELATIONS Daniel Scioli: I’ll de-escalate tensions with Bolsonaro 10-12-2019 10:49 Argentina's next ambassador to Brazil vows support for Lula will not ruin the relationship between the two countries, as both nations will aim for a pragmatic relationship. by Perfíl/ Rosario Ayerdi
Miguel Díaz-Canel Cuban leader Díaz-Canel arrives in Argentina ahead of inauguration 09-12-2019 14:56 The first international leader to arrive in Buenos Aires for Tuesday's ceremonies is Miguel Díaz-Canel. Others will soon follow.
TRANSITION 2019 Bolsonaro says trade with Argentina will go on, despite Fernández 09-12-2019 13:30 Reports in the Brazilian press suggest Brazilian leader won't send a government minister to president-elect's inauguration.
MERCOSUR SUMMIT Tensions loom large at Macri's final Mercosur summit 05-12-2019 18:14 Macri bids farewell to Mercosur at summit in Brazil, with regional bloc reeling from US steel and aluminum tariffs and tensions between Bolsonaro and Alberto Fernández.
FUTURE OF MERCOSUR? Changing Mercosur bloc meets in Brazil after US tariffs blow 05-12-2019 07:26 Focus of bloc's 55th summit – the last for President Mauricio Macri – looked set to be the arrival of Alberto Fernández in office. The Mercosur now has more immediate concerns: Donald Trump.
Mercosur Fernández promises 'pragmatic ties' with Brazil and Mercosur 29-11-2019 18:34 President-elect optimistic over Argentina-Brazil relations on Thursday after Brasilia says it has "no problems" with incoming leader. After a turbulent campaign, both sides have agreed to maintain "pragmatic" relations with each other.