TEXAS SHOOTING Pope 'heartbroken' over Texas shooting, condemns arms trade Yesterdat 14:48 Argentine pontiff "heartbroken" by the school shooting in Texas that killed at least 19 children and two teachers.
CRIME & SECURITY Three decades after Pablo Escobar's death, drugs ravage Medellín 10-05-2022 17:03 Three decades after cartel boss Pablo Escobar was shot dead by police on a rooftop in Medellín, the very city he had sought to uplift with drug money is being ravaged by it, having become the epicentre of the domestic drug trade.
HARVEST BOOM Global grain shortage an opportunity for Argentina's 'green gold' 06-05-2022 15:48 Soybean harvest will be smaller than last year, but it will bring in record prices as a result of Russia's attack on Ukraine. Agro-industrial exports could reach as high as US$41 billion this year, according to experts.
BLOOMBERG Bond chaos in Argentina sparks traders’ rush to provincial notes 25-04-2022 15:36 Investors are snapping up securities issued by the provinces of Córdoba, Neuquén, Mendoza and Chubut, turning them into the nation’s top performers this month.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS Exports soared to record high in March 21-04-2022 17:29 Argentina exported a record US$7.352 billion last month – 28.5% more than in the previous month.
Bilateral relations Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso to visit Argentina next week 15-04-2022 11:34 With the objective of expanding trade links with the region, Lasso will begin an official visit to Argentina Sunday and meet with President Alberto Fernández the following morning.
AGRICULTURE Government suspends soybean exports as prices rise 14-03-2022 13:09 Argentina's government announced on Monday it had suspended exports of soybean flour and oil amid rumours it's planning to hike taxes due to soaring primary material costs.
Bloomberg The carry trade is minting big returns in Latin America again 09-02-2022 15:32 The carry trade is roaring back in Latin America, home to some of the world’s most aggressive inflation-fighting central banks.
alberto's foreign tour Trip to Russia, China puts Argentina’s ‘círculo rojo’ on orange alert 28-01-2022 17:07 Concerns among the group of influential decision-makers dubbed the “círculo rojo” are increasing, with unrest over the president’s tour destinations and doubts over a new IMF deal.
ALBERTO’S FOREIGN TOUR Alberto’s mission: Selling his support for Russia and China – at a high price 28-01-2022 17:04 Putin and Xi are two of the biggest political leaders in the world, beyond any doubt, but they are also among the most denounced. by Maximiliano Sardi
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development OECD opens accession talks with Argentina, Brazil and Peru 25-01-2022 19:00 OECD says it has opened “accession discussions” with six potential new members, including Argentina, Brazil and Peru.
DIPLOMACY Lunch with Putin in Russia, trips to China and Barbados – details emerge of president’s next trip 24-01-2022 22:16 President Alberto Fernández's upcoming tour will see him hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of Russia and China. A meeting with Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has also been lined up, according to diplomatic sources.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS Argentina's trade surplus up by 17.7% in 2021 21-01-2022 22:49 Argentina closed out 2021 with a trade volume of US$141 billion, its biggest since 2013, and a surplus of almost US$15 billion, 17% higher than the previous year.
‘GESTAPO’ VIDEO SCANDAL President calls for probe into allegations of trade-union persecution 04-01-2022 17:52 President Fernandez calls on Judiciary to "investigate without delay" allegations of alleged espionage and trade-union persecution, following leaked 'Gestapo' video.
'GESTAPO' VIDEO AFI denounces ex-BA Province minister after ‘Gestapo’ comment in video 31-12-2021 12:31 Video footage emerges of ex-Buenos Aires Province labour minister Marcelo Villegas telling business leaders of plan to tackle trade union leaders. AFI intelligence denounces officials of ex-Vidal administration before courts.
EUROPEAN POLITICS 'Hamstrung' Europe searches for a post-Merkel leader 28-12-2021 10:15 Angela Merkel's departure from the political stage after 16 years as chancellor has not only ushered in a new era in Germany but also shaken up the power balance in the European Union.
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.
LATIN AMERICA Maduro: Venezuela and Colombia need to 'normalise' ties 21-10-2021 11:11 Nicolás Maduro calls for the normalisation of trade and diplomatic relations with Colombia, which have been non-existent since 2019 when the government refused to recognise him as Venezuela's leader.
BATTLE AGAINST INFLATION Argentina freezes prices on over 1,400 goods ahead of elections 20-10-2021 10:11 The government is freezing prices on 1,432 household items in an effort to cool accelerating inflation ahead of November’s midterm election.
CRIME & SECURITY Ecuador's president declares state of emergency over drug violence 19-10-2021 09:13 Guillermo Lasso declares a state of emergency in the country grappling with a surge in drug-related violence and orders mobilisation of police and military.
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.
And that reminds me... Importing no less important 09-10-2021 12:12 Everybody hails the importance of exports. Imports have no such luck. by Michael Soltys
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.
ECONOMY & ENVIRONMENT Paraná river at historic low: natural cycle or climate change? 04-09-2021 10:52 South America's second-longest river has dropped to its lowest level since the 1940s, baffling experts and leaving environmentalists concerned.
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.
Bloomberg Colombia gets a leg up in global marijuana export market 09-08-2021 14:50 Colombia is already world renowned for its coffee beans and flowers. Now, a new decree could make it a a major exporter of marijuana as well.
Bloomberg Water crisis threatens grain, iron transport on key Brazil river 29-07-2021 16:12 Brazil issued a provisional measure to authorise exceptional and temporary efforts to optimize the use of hydro-energy resources and secure energy supply as country faces one of its worst water crisis.
NEW REPORT WTO: Argentina among top 15 countries with most import barriers 28-07-2021 22:00 New WTO and UNCTAD technical report warns country is among those which slap the most levies on the entry of products, with Brazil next in 16th position.
Protests in Cuba US sanctions Cuba for repressing protests, Biden warns more to come 23-07-2021 02:58 US President Joe Biden warns sanctions on Cuba's defence minister and a special forces unit are "just the beginning" of punitive measures against Havana.
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.
Bloomberg MercadoLibre, BigCommerce ally to boost US sales to Latin America 21-07-2021 10:46 MercadoLibre partners with Texas-based BigCommerce Holdings to give the online-shopping software-maker’s web merchants access to a new region.
BLOOMBERG – ANALYSIS Cuba protests fanned by worst economic crisis since fall of USSR 16-07-2021 03:00 Cuba's deepest economic crisis since the collapse of the Soviet Union, a spike in Covid-19 infections, power blackouts and increased use of social media all helped fan discontent with the 62-year-old communist regime.
DIPLOMACY Fernández criticises 'inhumane' trade embargo against Cuba 13-07-2021 16:37 President Alberto Fernández delivers his first comments on protests in Cuba. “I don't know what is happening, but let’s end the blockade,” he says.
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.
TECH GIANTS Facebook wins US antitrust dismissal, surges to US$1-trillion value 28-06-2021 19:23 A judge of the of the US District Court dismissed cases filed in December by the Federal Trade Commission and more than 40 states, which could have impeded Facebook's acquisition of Instagram and WhatsApp.
LABOUR TENSIONS Unions demanding vaccines strike at Argentina's soy ports 20-05-2021 11:23 Trade unions go on strike, the latest in a string of protests by workers demanding vaccination against Covid-19.
Environment WTO deal 'doable' to stop subsidies that lead to over-fishing 11-05-2021 13:48 After two decades of talks at the World Trade Organization towards banning subsidies that contribute to over-fishing, Colombian ambassador Santiago Wills said Tuesday that a deal could be within reach.
BLOOMBERG Australia’s spat with China opens door for grain rival Argentina 04-05-2021 21:48 Farmers in Argentina are pouncing on a trade feud between grain rival Australia and voracious crop buyer China.
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."
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
Coronavirus Pandemic EU vaccine export-vetting scheme: 5 things to know 24-03-2021 12:47 The EU's Covid-19 vaccine export vetting scheme means companies making vaccines in the EU must ask for approval to export doses to non-EU countries. But how does it work?
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
BRITISH DEFENCE REVIEW UK promises ‘permanent’ Malvinas military presence, angering Argentina 19-03-2021 15:00 Foreign Ministry decries Britain’s “traditional colonialist view” over disputed islands, following publication of new UK security and defence review.
LEGAL MARIJUANA IN MEXICO? Mexico prepares for legal marijuana gold rush 18-03-2021 11:52 Mexican lawmakers are close to approving legalisation that is expected to catapult the country's regulated cannabis trade into a billion-dollar legal marijuana market.
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.