News of trade

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.

EU to present Mercosur trade deal 'in coming days'

30-06-2025 13:01 European Commission will present EU states with the final legal version of a trade deal with South American nations "in the coming days," says spokesperson.

Workers' rights in 'free fall' globally, says trade union report

02-06-2025 19:01 International Trade Union Confederation highlights "profound deterioration" in workers' rights in its annual rights index.

Trump says he will double steel and aluminum tariffs to 50%

31-05-2025 10:35 US President Donald Trump says will double steel and aluminium import tariffs to 50% from next week.

China is said seeking Argentina crops as it skirts US tariffs

09-05-2025 08:31 China signed a letter of intent with exporters in Argentina to buy about US$900 million of soybeans, corn and vegetable oil.

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.

Mercosur shields Paraguay from Trump tariff pain, says finance chief

23-04-2025 22:29 Membership in one of the world’s most protectionist trade blocs will help shield Paraguay from the worst of near-term disruptions caused by US tariffs.

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.

Trump, Milei and how to lose the trust of markets and voters

12-04-2025 05:37 Trump stepped back from the edge, at least momentarily, even though he is keeping his finger on the trigger.​​

by Agustino Fontevecchia

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.

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.

Strength in numbers: Latin America urges unity in face of Trump tariffs

09-04-2025 17:38 Latin American leaders at CELAC summit in Honduras call for a united front to tackle US President Donald Trump's tariff onslaught.

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

Trump tariffs everyone, with rate on China set to soar above 50%

03-04-2025 00:24 US President Donald Trump announces steepest US tariffs in a century, unnerving investors who see a trade war ahead.

Is Donald Trump good for Argentina?

15-03-2025 07:40 Trump’s new transactional and short-term economic order overlaps with a new gangster-style and hyper-materialistic political order.

by Jorge Fontevecchia

Irish eyes are on the future, says Dublin’s man in Buenos Aires

15-03-2025 07:16 Ireland’s Ambassador to Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, Gerard McCoy, marks St. Patrick’s Day with a review of diplomatic relations, Argentina’s Irish community and bilateral trade.

by Michael Soltys

Trump escalates global trade war, sparking tit-for-tat tariffs

04-03-2025 12:27 Confirmation of the levies lays to rest doubts Trump would actually follow through on his repeated threats to upend global economic ties to counter what he casts as imbalanced trade.

Milei: Mercosur bloc ‘has only enriched Brazilian industrialists’

02-03-2025 11:28 Argentina’s President Javier Milei declares in speech to Congress that Mercosur trade bloc has “only enriched Brazilian industrialists,” warning he will take his nation out of trade bloc if it prevents free-trade deal with United States.

No exemption for Argentina on steel, aluminium tariffs

12-02-2025 18:10 US president confirms 25% steel, aluminium tariffs on imports because United States has “a small deficit” with Argentina on trade.

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.