News of trade

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.

Macron slams 'very bad' EU-Mercosur deal, proposes negotiating new one

28-03-2024 14:48 French President Emmanuel Macron delivers withering remarks about deal that took 20 years to negotiate and suggests ripping it up and starting all over again.

EFTA euro nations eye Mercosur deal before year-end

22-03-2024 15:00 Parliamentary representatives from European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) stop in Buenos Aires as part of regional tour focusing on efforts to secure free-trade deal with the Mercosur bloc.

by James Grainger

EU-Mercosur trade deal totters as Europe's farmers revolt

30-01-2024 18:15 Growing farmer protests in Europe and strong opposition from France damages push for EU-Mercosur free-trade deal.

EU says Mercosur deal 'not quite there' but talks continue

30-01-2024 09:43 EU-Mercosur trade deal is "not quite there yet" but talks continue, the European Commission said Tuesday against a backdrop of farmer protests in Europe.

Scholz, Milei in favour of swift conclusion to EU-Mercosur deal

09-01-2024 20:42 President Javier Milei spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday, with the two calling for a swift conclusion to the European Union-Mercosur trade deal.

Crunch time for EU-Mercosur trade deal at Rio summit

05-12-2023 09:01 Fate of long-awaited trade deal hangs in the balance this week at key Mercosur summit in Brazil; Meeting was originally supposed to seal agreement, but last-minute bickering puts it in doubt.

EU, South America near deal on elusive Mercosur trade pact

30-11-2023 12:51 European Union and Mercosur are closer than ever to concluding a major free-trade agreement more than two decades in the making, with leaders optimistic they can strike a deal next week.

Ireland deepens relations with Latin America and the Caribbean

25-11-2023 10:26 The Irish commitment to step up our engagement with the Latin America and the Caribbean region has been backed by the EU’s commitment to do the same.

‘First six months of 2024 are going to be terrible,’ says Argentine business leader

15-11-2023 22:41 Head of Cámara Argentina de Comercio offers ominous forecast for next government’s initial months in office and warns politicians must “do things properly" in what looks to be a “complex” year ahead.

Lula and Sánchez plead for finalising Mercosur-EU agreement

03-11-2023 16:54 President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez pled in a telephone conversation on Friday for finalising the trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union as soon as possible.

Lula urges meeting of EU-Mercosur leaders over trade deal fate

11-09-2023 11:34 EU and the Mercosur countries have been in talks to try to clinch a trade accord for more than 20 years – Lula says it's not time to decide, once and for all.

Brazil to send business leaders to Cuba in push to rebuild ties

02-09-2023 10:32 Delegation of at least 30 Brazilian business leaders will travel to Havana on Monday in search of opportunities to boost trade with Cuba, the latest step in Lula's push to repair relations between the two nations.

Lula vows to grow Mercosur amid Uruguay flak, Argentina crisis

05-07-2023 11:00 Plans to strengthen and expand the Mercosur trading bloc hit by disagreement among its members over several topics, including Venezuela and free-trade agreements with other markets. 

Argentina, Brazil take aim at EU's environmental trade deal terms

04-07-2023 14:49 Argentina and Brazil slam "unacceptable" EU stance in negotiations with the Mercosur bloc for long-delayed free-trade deal.

Are we close to a EU-Mercosur trade agreement?

03-07-2023 10:34 The latest diplomatic signs suggest that the Southern Cone bloc is interested in reaching an understanding. Hopefully the European Union will listen to its own commission, which is also pushing for a deal.

Mercosur summit opens as EU trade deal hangs in the balance

03-07-2023 08:33 Four regional presidents set to meet at key Mercosur summit in Puerto Iguazú, with talks over free-trade deal with the European Union dominating the agenda.

Biden hosts Uruguay’s president for surprise meeting

14-06-2023 14:13 US President Joe Biden explores "ways to expand the economic relationship" with Uruguay during meeting with Luis Lacalle Pou at White House.

EU seeks to boost 'neglected' ties with Latin America

07-06-2023 12:42 European Union launches new strategy to "recalibrate and renew" relations with Latin American and Caribbean countries, just over a month before first EU-CELAC summit for eight years.