News of trade

Stubbornly resilient lithium supply remains hurdle to recovery

08-01-2025 10:06 Lithium prices have plunged since late 2022 on oversupply and slower-than-expected growth in electric vehicle demand. Analysts see a surplus this year, although they forecast it will be smaller than in 2024.

Five key points about the Panama Canal, now in Trump's sights

23-12-2024 21:42 President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to reclaim control of the Panama Canal unless toll prices for US ships are reduced, but local authorities rejects his claim.

Milei vows to axe capital controls and negotiate Trump trade deal

11-12-2024 09:50 President Javier Milei promises to lift capital and currency controls next year and negotiate a free-trade agreement with the United States once Donald Trump takes office.

Milei promises inflation will be a 'bad memory' in first anniversary speech

10-12-2024 23:45 President touts US trade deal with Trump, vows to remove currency controls and says “happy times” lie ahead in national broadcast marking first year in office.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

US likely to increase focus on LatAm with Rubio as top diplomat

19-11-2024 12:27 Marco Rubio's appointment as the United States' top diplomat has raised expectations that Washington will place greater emphasis on Latin America moving forward.

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.

Lula’s embrace of Xi sets up a clash over Trump’s China policy

14-11-2024 12:37 Brazil’s President Lula is advancing a strategic partnership with China, pursuing infrastructure projects to boost Brazil’s economic ties with Asia, despite the risks of upsetting their other largest trade partner: the United States.

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.

Milei taps unseasonal source in search of dollars

30-10-2024 10:06 Faced by a shortage of foreign reserves, the Central Bank is turning to an unusual source of funding for this time of year: a risky trade by crop exporters.

Argentina's approach to China switches as ideology gives in to interests

07-10-2024 14:00 The Milei administration’s latest political and discursive twist shows that ideology often ends up giving way to interests when it comes to governing. 

Biden says prolonged US port strike would be ‘man-made disaster’

03-10-2024 11:14 UF President Joe Biden pressures US port employers and shipping lines to restart talks with striking dock workers.

Aviation worker strike affects more than 30,000 passengers

13-09-2024 13:59 A strike by pilots and crew demanding salary increases affected more than 30,000 passengers on Friday, according to Aerolineas Argentínas and unions.

‘Mochileros de la cocaína’ – Rising numbers of drug ‘mule’ backpackers

12-09-2024 13:00 Farm hands, manual labourers and local guides in the north of Argentina are being coopted by criminal organisations for the overland transfer of drugs across the frontier with Bolivia, crossing mountains and valleys without caring about the weather or the visibility.

by Leonardo Nieva

Argentina, US ink accord for ‘cooperation on critical minerals’

23-08-2024 13:31 Argentina and the United States sign memorandum of understanding to strengthen production of "critical minerals" such as lithium that are essential for the energy transition.

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.