Argentine Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship minister, Diana Mondino said that three are the main foreign policy objectives of the government of president Javier Milei, international trade and treaties, regional integration and improving logistic costs and returning Argentina to a position of international relevance and prestige, a reliable country with a respected loud voice worldwide, in a context of clear and fair rules of the game so promote corporations from the private sector.
Brazil's foreign trade in goods, some US$ 640bn annually is done mostly in US dollars, some 95%, but there are some inroads to other currencies such as the Euro and its own Brazilian Reais. These figure come from an annual report on trade operations’ currency statements compiled by Brazil’s Foreign Trade Secretariat of the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services (Secex-MDIC), and revealed last week.
The South American Common Market (Mercosur) will start negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Japan next month, Paraguay's Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano acknowledged in an interview with the Nikkei economic newspaper. Paraguay currently holds the rotating presidency of the regional bloc.
The Latin American Economic Climate Index (ICE) released this weekend by Brazil's Getúlio Vargas Foundation (FGV) highlighted Paraguay as the Mecca for business ventures in the region given the country's outstanding performance.
Argentine authorities signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the United States whereby the latter's Army Corps of Engineers would get involved in maintenance duties along the Paraná-Paraguay River Waterway, it was reported. US Ambassador to Buenos Aires Marc Stanley was present at the ceremony involving the Argentine agency managing the waterway and the General Ports Administration (AGP).
European Union (EU) Environment Commission envoy Emanuele Pitto told Paraguayan exporters Thursday in Asunción that there would be no turning back from Rule 1115 banning raw materials and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation. The measure not allowing imports nor exports of these goods has been in force since June 29 last year.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez Wednesday signed a series of bilateral agreements at the Planalto Palace. The documents dealt with communications; science, technology, public administration, and health issues, Agencia Brasil reported. Both heads of government also concurred on the importance of expanding political, commercial, and investment relations.
Uruguayan health authorities confirmed Monday the second case of autochthonous dengue in the country, it was reported in Montevideo.
President Luis Lacalle Pou told his country's Parliament Saturday that Uruguay needed to open up to the world. In his last accountability for the year speech as head of state before Parliament, he also singled out Argentina and Brazil for “blocking” Mercosur agreements and insisted on the importance of achieving fiscal goals, low inflation, employment growth, educational transformation, and making the regional bloc more flexible.
The city of Corrientes, the capital of the Argentine province of the same name, was left under water Sunday as 209 millimeters of heavy rains caused floods and material damage while vehicles were swept away by the current. Classes were suspended for Monday amid widespread power outages, with streets turned into temporary rivers.