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PARIS (AP) — French farmers are mobilizing for widespread protests on Monday targeting the EU-Mercosur trade agreement. Backed by their government, they argue the deal threatens their livelihoods by allowing a surge of South American agricultural imports produced under less stringent environmental standards. A partial EU-Mercosur deal, with many of the parts that French farmers find unsavory, could be agreed over their heads since France does not hold veto power. Other nations like Germany and Spain would like to see a far-reaching deal with their South American counterparts. French Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard has publicly opposed the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, citing risks of deforestation and health concerns linked to hormone-treated meat.

Persons: Villacoublay, ”, Jean, Noël, Luis Planas Puchades, Annie Genevard, Emmanuel Macron Organizations: PARIS, EU, Mercosur, European Union, French, South American, Spanish Farm, North, TF1, South, Farmers, Associated Press Locations: Paris, Velizy, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, France, EU, Germany, Spain, Mercosur, European, Auch, Agen, Europe, South America, South American

☆ How Venezuela’s election could upend the geopolitics of the Americas
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Stefano Pozzebon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Caracas CNN —It would be easy to dismiss this Sunday’s presidential election in Venezuela as a fait accompli. The opposition campaign has re-energized its bases, and the candidature of Edmundo González has attracted widespread support in Venezuela and abroad. A chance to rebuild Venezuela’s economic power“On the ballot is how long it’ll take to fix Venezuela’s economy,” said Asdrubal Oliveros, founder of Caracas firm Ecoanalitica, in his weekly podcast on July 8. Once the fifth-largest economy in Latin America, today Venezuela’s economy has shrunk to the equivalent of a medium-sized city, smaller than say, Milwaukee, according to data from the IMF. As Venezuela’s economy has crumbled, around eight million Venezuelans have already fled their country, many of them scattered across South America.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, ”, –, Laboratorio de Paz, Edmundo González, Asdrubal Oliveros, Andres, Maduro, Edmundo Gonzalez, Maria Corina Machado, Gabriela Oraa, Gonzalez, Consultores, Putin, Xi Jinping, who’s, “, Donald Trump Organizations: Caracas CNN —, Laboratorio, IMF, Andres Bello Catholic University, Central University of Venezuela, of American, World Bank, Inter, American Development Bank, Supreme, CNN Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, Ecoanalitica, Latin America, Milwaukee, AFP, United States, Americas, South America, Venezuelan, America, China, Iran, Russia, Miami, Cuba, Maduro, of American States, Mercosur, Algiers, Brussels, Buenos Aires, Spanish, Washington, Brexit, neofascism, Europe, India, Turkey, Philippines

☆ France's Macron Says Proposed EU-Mercosur Agreement Is 'Very Bad Deal'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( March | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

"As it is negotiated today, it is a very bad deal, for you and for us," Macron told businessmen in Sao Paulo while on a three-day trip to Latin America's largest economy, amid troubled talks over a free trade deal between the two economic blocs. "There is nothing that takes into consideration the subject of biodiversity and climate; nothing," Macron said. "Let's forge a new deal in light of our goals and reality, a trade deal that is responsible on development, climate and biodiversity." "It's true we lost an opportunity at the end of last year, but we should not give up on this deal." At upcoming G20 and COP summits in Brazil, Macron said he planned to push for more international standards to financially incentivize banks, firms and investors to decarbonize industrial processes and better preserve the environment.

Persons: Sarah Morland, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Fernando Haddad, Haddad, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Lula, Jair Bolsonaro, Eduardo Simoes, Jonathan Oatis, Kylie Madry, Kim Coghill Organizations: Reuters, European Union, South American Mercosur, Brazilian Finance Locations: Brazil, Sao Paulo, France, Africa, Mexico City

☆ Farmers in Europe Step up Protests Against Rising Costs, Green Rules
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

Farmers say they are not being paid enough, are choked by taxes and green rules and face unfair competition from abroad. French farmers have already won several concessions, including the government dropping plans to gradually reduce subsidies on agricultural diesel. On Wednesday, European Commissioners proposed limiting agricultural imports from Ukraine and greater flexibility on rules on fallow land in a bid to quell protests. In Italy, farmers have blocked traffic with hundreds of tractors near motorway access points near Milan, in Tuscany and elsewhere in recent days. While a deal looks possible on fallow land, the question of talks on a major trade deal with the Mercosur group is more contentious.

Persons: Marco Trujillo, Philip Blenkinsop PARIS, Adelin Desmecht, Gerald Darmanin, Bruno, Coldiretti, Le Maire, Abdul Saboor, Jean, Stephane Brosse, Gus Trompiz, Dominique Vidalon, Benoit van Overstraeten, Geert de Clercq, Charlotte van, Phil Blenikinsop, Alvise Arminelli, Ingrid Melander, Ros Russell Organizations: EU, South, Farmers, Mercosur, French Finance, European Commission, South American, Charlotte van Campenhout Locations: BRUSSELS, Europe, Brussels, Belgian, France, Paris, Belgium, Zeebrugge, Ukraine, Mercosur, Italy, Milan, Tuscany, Bordeaux, Amsterdam

☆ Belgian Farmers to Block Zeebrugge Port as French Protests Spill Over - Reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian farmers outraged over rising costs, European Union environmental policies and cheap food imports plan to block access roads to the Zeebrugge container port in Belgium, financial daily De Tijd reported on Tuesday. Farmers also disrupted traffic close to the Dutch border on the E19 highway on Tuesday morning, with a tractor convoy heading towards port city Antwerp, state broadcaster RTBF said. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo is set to meet with farmers' associations on Tuesday. In recent weeks, farmers across Europe including Germany, Poland and Romania have demonstrated over what they call excessive red tape, high fuel costs and unfair competition resulting from liberal European Union trade policies. On Monday, Belgian farmers blocked highways in southern Belgium and parked tractors near to the EU Parliament in Brussels.

Persons: De Tijd, RTBF, Alexander De Croo, Emmanuel Macron, Tassilo Hummel Organizations: Reuters, Farmers, Belgian, European Union, European Commission, South America's Mercosur, GV De Locations: BRUSSELS, Union, Zeebrugge, Belgium, Antwerp, Europe, Germany, Poland, Romania, Belgian, France, Paris, Brussels

☆ Lula in Berlin for First Brazil-Germany Talks in Eight Years
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Dec. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

He is expected to have dinner on Sunday with fellow leftist, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, before the consultations on Monday. Scholz was the first foreign leader to visit Lula in Brazil, just weeks after his inauguration. The German Chancellor has been on a quest since taking office in late 2021 to improve ties with the Global South. Scholz will be hoping to avoid a scenario like in January when his visit to Brazil was overshadowed by differences over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Lula last month said Israel was "committing terrorism" against Palestinians "by not taking into account that children are not at war, that women are not at war".

Persons: Andreas Rinke, Sarah Marsh BERLIN, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Lula, Jair Bolsonaro, Olaf Scholz, Scholz, Lukas Koehler, Israel, Sarah Marsh, Toby Chopra Organizations: Global, European Union, Mercosur, Brazil, EU, Free Democrats, U.S, Latin America, German Locations: Berlin, America, Brazil, Germany, China, South, Argentina, Scholz's, Ukraine, Israel

Persons: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Ueslei Marcelino, Lula, Jair Bolsonaro, Olaf Scholz, Scholz, Lukas Koehler, Israel, Andreas Rinke, Sarah Marsh, Toby Chopra Organizations: Central Bank, REUTERS, Rights, Global, European Union, Mercosur, Brazil, EU, Free Democrats, U.S, Latin America, German, Thomson Locations: Brasilia, Brazil, Berlin, America, Germany, China, South, Argentina, Scholz's, Ukraine, Israel

☆ EU-Mercosur Deal's Future up to New Argentina Government -Sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Dec. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

"Given the transition in Argentina, we are handing the subject to the new government, which has indicated they want a deal," the Brazilian foreign ministry spokesman said. A European official with knowledge of the talks said Argentina was no longer open to finalizing the deal on Mercosur. Argentine negotiators who were due to travel to Brasilia for final push to close the deal canceled their trip, a Brazilian government trade official told Reuters. Officials wanted to wrap up agreements before Argentina's Milei takes office on Dec. 10, as he has criticized the trade deal that took two decades to negotiate. Argentina's incoming foreign minister, Diana Mondino, said it was important to sign the EU-Mercosur accord after she visited Brasilia last Sunday to meet Brazil's foreign minister.

Persons: Anthony Boadle BRASILIA, Javier Milei, Milei, Diana Mondino, Anthony Boadle, Marcela Ayres, Lisandra, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Reuters, European Union, Mercosur, Argentine, EU, Milei, Diplomats Locations: Argentina, Mercosur, Brasilia, American, Brazil, Argentine, Belen, Madrid, Jorgelina, Rosario, Buenos Aires

Persons: Javier Milei, Milei, Diana Mondino, Anthony Boadle, Marcela Ayres, Lisandra, Matthew Lewis Organizations: European Union, Mercosur, Argentine, Reuters, EU, Milei, Diplomats, Thomson Locations: BRASILIA, Argentina, Mercosur, Brasilia, American, Brazil, Argentine, Belen, Madrid, Jorgelina, Rosario, Buenos Aires

☆ Bolivia Gets Green Light for Full Mercosur Membership
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Lucinda ElliottSAO PAULO (Reuters) - Bolivia is set to become a full member of the South American Mercosur trade bloc following a decision on Tuesday by the Brazilian Senate to approve the country's admission. The vote on the accession of Bolivia to Mercosur is expected to be formally concluded during a regional summit on Dec. 7 in Rio de Janeiro. "Thank you to the senators for completing this process and congratulations to President Arce and Bolivia for joining us in Mercosur," Lula said on social media. Prospects for finally concluding the trade agreement with the EU gained traction following the election of ultra-liberal Javier Milei, a staunch critic of Mercosur, as president of Argentina. Bolivia was one of the worst offenders of primary forest clearances last year, behind only Brazil and the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to Global Forest Watch that monitors deforestation rates.

Persons: Lucinda Elliott, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, Arce, Lula, Javier Milei, Milei, Mark Porter Organizations: Lucinda Elliott SAO PAULO, Reuters, South American Mercosur, Brazilian Senate, European Union, EU, Mercosur, Democratic, Global Forest Watch Locations: Bolivia, Brazilian, Mercosur, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Democratic Republic of Congo

☆ Bolivia gets green light for full Mercosur membership
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Lucinda Elliott | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SAO PAULO, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Bolivia is set to become a full member of the South American Mercosur trade bloc following a decision on Tuesday by the Brazilian Senate to approve the country's admission. The vote on the accession of Bolivia to Mercosur is expected to be formally concluded during a regional summit on Dec. 7 in Rio de Janeiro. "Thank you to the senators for completing this process and congratulations to President Arce and Bolivia for joining us in Mercosur," Lula said on social media. Prospects for finally concluding the trade agreement with the EU gained traction following the election of ultra-liberal Javier Milei, a staunch critic of Mercosur, as president of Argentina. Bolivia was one of the worst offenders of primary forest clearances last year, behind only Brazil and the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to Global Forest Watch that monitors deforestation rates.

Persons: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Arce, Lula, Luis Arce, Javier Milei, Milei, Lucinda Elliott, Mark Porter Organizations: SAO PAULO, South American Mercosur, Brazilian Senate, Bolivia, Senators, European Union, EU, Mercosur, Democratic, Global Forest Watch, Thomson Locations: Bolivia, Brazilian, Mercosur, Rio de Janeiro, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo

☆ Argentina's Milei invites Brazil's Lula to inauguration, travels to US
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Last week Milei, who travels to the United States on Sunday, had already softened his tone with China's communist leadership, thanking President Xi Jinping for a letter congratulating him. "I hope that our mutual time as presidents will be a stage for fruitful work and the construction of ties that consolidate the role Argentina and Brazil can and must fulfill in the concert of nations," Milei told Lula. The letter was delivered by his top foreign policy adviser, Diana Mondino, to Brazil's Foreign Relations Minister Mauro Vieira at a meeting in Brasilia. The new Argentine leader is closer politically and personally to former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and has invited him to his inauguration. Milei meanwhile was set to travel to the U.S. on Sunday, a spokesperson told Reuters, noting he would attend a religious ceremony in New York and have meetings in Washington.

Persons: Javier Milei, Brazil's, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Milei, Lula, Xi Jinping, Diana Mondino, Mauro Vieira, Jair Bolsonaro, Bolsonaro, Mondino, Vieira, Karina, Kristalina Georgieva, Gabriel Araujo, Lisandra, Jorge Otaola, David Gregorio, Stephen Coates Organizations: SAO PAULO, Foreign, Argentine, White, U.S . Treasury, International Monetary Fund, dollarizing, IMF, Thomson Locations: BRASILIA, BUENOS AIRES, Argentine, Brazil, United States, China, Argentina, Brasilia, Mercosur, New York, Washington, dollarizing Argentina, U.S, Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires

☆ Argentina's Milei thanks Chinese president, in softening of tone
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Argentine presidential candidate Javier Milei addresses supporters as they react to the results of Argentina's runoff presidential election, in Buenos Aires, Argentina November 19, 2023. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian Acquire Licensing RightsBUENOS AIRES, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Argentine President-elect Javier Milei on Wednesday thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for a letter congratulating him on last Sunday's elections results, a softening of tone from earlier harsh criticism of China's communist leadership. "I thank President Xi Jinping for the congratulations and good wishes," Milei said on his personal X account. Since the election, Milei has softened his tone with many he has previously criticized, including his countryman Pope Francis. In a separate post on Wednesday, Milei thanked former U.S. President Donald Trump for congratulations from his campaign team and said he hoped to meet soon.

Persons: Javier Milei, Agustin Marcarian, Xi Jinping, Milei, Xi, Pope Francis, Donald Trump, Adam Jourdan, Gabriel Araujo, Sarah Morland, Kylie Madry Organizations: Argentine, REUTERS, South American Mercosur, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES, Argentine, China, Brazil

China, the world's second-largest economy, is already a major investor in South America and has offered tariff-free access to its huge consumer market to four countries. But Uruguay faces opposition from other members of the Mercosur bloc who want to settle an FTA with Europe instead. By comparison, other major beef exporters Australia and New Zealand, which have FTAs with China, pay tariffs at 3.3% and 0%. The elevation of ties with Uruguay to the level of Brazil and Argentina also pushes the remaining Mercosur member Paraguay further outside China's global trade and investment network. Agriculture-dependent Paraguay, whose main exports include beef and soybeans, is the last South American nation that has ties with democratically governed Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory, and not with Beijing.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Luis Lacalle Pou, Florence Lo, Lacalle Pou, Xi, Joe Cash, Ryan Woo, Ella Cao, Toby Chopra, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Chizu Nomiyama, Alexander Smith Organizations: Uruguayan, of, People, REUTERS, New Development Bank BEIJING, Mercosur, South, Nations, New Development Bank, China, United, Mercosur CET, National Meat Institute of, China's National Bureau of Statistics, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil Mercosur, American, Brazil, South America, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Shanghai, United States, MERCOSUR Uruguay, Brussels, Montevideo, Mercosur, National Meat Institute of Uruguay, Paraguay, Taiwan

☆ Brazil's Lula wishes luck and success to new Argentine president
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BRASILIA, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva extended best wishes to the newly elected government in Argentina, without making direct mention of President-elect Javier Milei, who has previously criticized Lula and labeled him an "angry communist." Brazil will always be available to work together with our Argentine brothers," he wrote on Sunday on X, formerly Twitter. On Tuesday, leftist Lula had said that Argentina, the country's third-largest trading partner, should choose a president who supports democracy and the Mercosur trading bloc. He has also criticized the South American common market Mercosur and said Argentina would "follow its own path." He met with Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad in Brasilia earlier this year to discuss mechanisms to secure imports by Buenos Aires.

Persons: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Javier Milei, Lula, Argentine, Sergio Massa, Fernando Haddad, Haddad, Marcela Ayres, Lisa Shumaker, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Twitter, Mercosur, Economy, Brazilian Finance, Reuters, Thomson Locations: BRASILIA, Argentina, Brazil, Argentine, Mercosur, Brasilia, Buenos Aires

☆ Brazil's Lula Wishes Luck and Success to New Argentine President
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva extended best wishes to the newly elected government in Argentina, without making direct mention of President-elect Javier Milei, who has previously criticized Lula and labeled him an "angry communist." Brazil will always be available to work together with our Argentine brothers," he wrote on Sunday on X, formerly Twitter. On Tuesday, leftist Lula had said that Argentina, the country's third-largest trading partner, should choose a president who supports democracy and the Mercosur trading bloc. He has also criticized the South American common market Mercosur and said Argentina would "follow its own path." He met with Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad in Brasilia earlier this year to discuss mechanisms to secure imports by Buenos Aires.

Persons: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Javier Milei, Lula, Argentine, Sergio Massa, Fernando Haddad, Haddad, Marcela Ayres, Lisa Shumaker, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Reuters, Twitter, Mercosur, Economy, Brazilian Finance Locations: BRASILIA, Argentina, Brazil, Argentine, Mercosur, Brasilia, Buenos Aires

Which is stronger will tip the balance of the South American country's presidential election on Sunday and may reshape its diplomatic ties, economic future, and the wider region's political fault lines. 'NOT MY FIRST CHOICE'Neither Massa or Milei goes into the second round with a strong mandate. "For me, neither of them represents the hopes that I have for the future of the country. This would likely put a brake on more radical reforms and force Massa or Milei to moderate. The powerful regional governors are also split between the Peronists and the main conservative coalition, with none allied to Milei.

Persons: Javier Milei, Matias Baglietto, Sergio Massa, Massa, Donald Trump, Raquel Pampa, " Massa, Fernando Pedernera, Milei's, Mario Vargas Llosa, Milei, Nicolas Troitino, Valentina, Gonzalo, Benjamin Gedan, Wilson, Adam Jourdan, Horacio Soria, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Argentine, REUTERS, American, International Monetary Fund, Mercosur, Massa, Milei, America, Thomson Locations: Cordoba, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES, Buenos Aires, China, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, Chile, Colombia

MADRID/BRASILIA, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Argentina and Brazil are requesting 12.5 billion euros ($13.2 billion) in financial aid from the European Union in talks to conclude a trade agreement with South America's Mercosur bloc, according to a document seen by Reuters. Three EU and South American diplomats confirmed the Argentine request, which is backed by Brazil, in the rotating presidency of the four-nation Mercosur. A European diplomat involved in the talks told Reuters the 12.5 billion euros number was "floated" but that any support "would not be anything like that figure." The new aid request was made in a Mercosur counterproposal to an EU addendum proposing environmental safeguards. But the financial aid request and reopening of the public procurement chapter could prevent a final deal this year.

Persons: videoconferences, Xiana Mendez, Belen Carreño, Anthony Boadle, Brad Haynes, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: European Union, South America's Mercosur, Reuters, EU, South, Argentine, Mercosur, Thomson Locations: MADRID, BRASILIA, Argentina, Brazil, Mercosur, Uruguay, Paraguay, European, Brussels, Brasilia, Valencia

☆ Paraguay president to halt Mercosur-EU talks if no deal by December
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Daniela Desantis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Paraguay's president Santiago Pena addresses the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 19, 2023. Pena has criticized the progress of talks between the two trade blocs since before he took office in August. The deal between Mercosur - the trade bloc composed of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay - and the EU hit snags in 2019 after a so-called side letter from the EU requiring environmental safeguards. Lula, as well as EU Ambassador to Paraguay Javier Garcia de Viedma, have said they believe an EU-Mercosur deal was feasible by the end of 2023. "I think we are very close," Garcia de Viedma told reporters on Monday.

Persons: Santiago Pena, Eduardo Munoz, Pena, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Lula, Paraguay Javier Garcia de Viedma, Garcia de Viedma, Daniela Desantis, Sarah Morland, Mark Potter Organizations: General Assembly, REUTERS, Rights, European Union, Reuters, EU, Mercosur, United Nations General Assembly, United, United Arab Emirates, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Rights ASUNCION, Paraguayan, Mercosur, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, New York, Singapore, United Arab, EU

☆ Vietnam interested in trade deal with Mercosur, says Brazil's Lula
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva greets Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during a news statement at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia, Brazil September 25, 2023. The move comes as the Mercosur bloc tries to finalize a long-awaited trade deal with the European Union, which the leftist leader has been pushing to be concluded by the end of this year. Canada, South Korea and Singapore are other countries in talks for trade deals with Mercosur. Lula had previously hinted at potential agreements with China, Indonesia, Vietnam and countries in Central America and the Caribbean. A memorandum of understanding on defense, Lula added, was the "first step" towards a future deal that would open room for his country to export defense products to the Asian nation, "including aircraft".

Persons: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Pham Minh Chinh, Adriano Machado, Lula, Pham Minh, Minh Chinh, Vietnam's, Minh, Lisandra Paraguassu, Steven Grattan Organizations: Vietnam's, REUTERS, Rights, Mercosur, Vietnamese, European Union, EU, Saturday, Brazilian, Embraer, EMBR3, United Nations Security Council, Thomson Locations: Brasilia, Brazil, Rights BRASILIA, Vietnam, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Canada, South Korea, Singapore, China, Indonesia, Central America, Caribbean, Sao Paulo, Hanoi

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during a press conference at a hotel after the G20 Summit, in New Delhi, India, September 11, 2023. In part, that reflects the choppier waters the 77-year-old Brazilian leader now navigates, as Beijing and Washington flirt with a new Cold War while war rages in Ukraine. Even before he took office, Lula was greeted like a rock star last November at the U.N. climate change conference in Egypt. The closer ties to Beijing could complicate Brazil's relationship with Washington, including access to key technology, Shannon added. "Brazil is rapidly wasting its soft power by trying to be an international player with an outdated agenda," he said.

Persons: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Anushree, Pope, Jair Bolsonaro's, Lula, Oliver Stuenkel, Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin, Thomas Shannon, Porter, Shannon, Nicolas Maduro, Gabriel Boric, Rubens Barbosa, Putin, Maduro, Anthony Boadle, Brad Haynes, Paul Simao Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, United Nations General Assembly, U.S, General Assembly, Amazon, International Criminal Court, ICC, Arnold, Security, Mercosur, Venezuelan, Foreign Ministry, South, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, Rights BRASILIA, Brazil, China, Beijing, Washington, Ukraine, Sao Paulo, Egypt, U.S, Rio de Janeiro, Russia, South Africa, Shannon, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Brasilia, Brazilian, London, South American

☆ Mercosur reply on trade deal addendum already sent to EU, Brazil minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

SAO PAULO, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Brazil's Foreign Relations Minister Mauro Vieira said on Wednesday the Mercosur bloc of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay has already sent the European Union their position on an European addendum to their long-awaited trade agreement. Mercosur's counterproposal follows a so-called side letter from the EU including environmental safeguards to address strong reservations expressed by many EU member countries about the deal, which has been under negotiation for two decades. Reporting by Gabriel Araujo; Editing by Kylie MadryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mauro Vieira, counterproposal, Gabriel Araujo, Kylie Madry Organizations: SAO PAULO, Foreign, Mercosur, European Union, Thomson Locations: Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay

Delegates walk past the logos of the BRICS summit during the 2023 BRICS Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa on August 23, 2023. WHY DOES LULA WANT A BRICS CURRENCY? A BRICS currency "increases our payment options and reduces our vulnerabilities," he told the summit's opening plenary session. In July, India's foreign minister said, "there is no idea of a BRICS currency". WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OF SETTING UP A BRICS CURRENCY?

Persons: GIANLUIGI, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, LULA, doesn't, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Lesetja Kganyago, you've, Kganyago, Herbert Poenisch, Putin, Rachel Savage, Ethan Wang, Marcela Ayres, Gabriel Stargardter, Naomi Rovnick, Libby George, Marc Jones, John Stonestreet Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Mercosur, South, Zhejiang University, Federal Reserve, FX, International Monetary Fund, Bank of International, Thomson Locations: Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa, Rights JOHANNESBURG, Brazil, Russia, India, China, Russian, videolink, African, Ukraine, Beijing, Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, London

☆ EU seeks to revive Latin America, Caribbean ties as it turns away from China, Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Regardless of the outcome, officials said the meeting itself marked a step towards stronger ties. "The most important issue of the meeting is the meeting itself," Argentine Undersecretary for Latin American and Caribbean affairs Gustavo Martinez Pandiani told a small group of reporters in Brussels. The EU has said it wants a joint declaration condemning Russia, but knows this will be difficult to achieve. The EU and Argentina will sign a memorandum of understanding on energy cooperation before the summit starts. The EU may also offer details on plans to invest 10 billion euros ($11.2 billion) in CELAC infrastructure projects, part of its Global Gateway initiative.

Persons: Gustavo Martinez Pandiani, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Philip Blenkinsop, Barbara Lewis Organizations: European Union, UN, European, EU, Mercosur, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, America, Caribbean, EU, Ukraine, China, Caribbean States, Brussels, Argentine, Russia, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Cuba, El Salvador, Beijing, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay

☆ Uruguay Saw Opportunity in China. It Got Schooled in the Hazards of Trade.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Peter S. Goodman | More About Peter S. Goodman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In April, Mr. Lula traveled to China, where he received red carpet treatment, including a visit with the country’s top leader, Xi Jinping. “No one is going to prohibit Brazil from improving its relationship with China,” Mr. Lula said. Yet despite the Brazilian president’s avowed interest in brokering a trade deal, prospects for an agreement between Mercosur and China appeared somewhere between minimal and nonexistent. A notoriously slow-moving organization rife with internal discord, Mercosur has spent more than 20 years trying to complete negotiations on a trade deal with the European Union. That alone rendered all but unthinkable the possibility of a deal between Mercosur and China.

Persons: Lula, Xi, ” Mr Organizations: European Union Locations: China, Brazil, Uruguay, South, Mercosur, Paraguay, Beijing, Taiwan

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