LatinNews Daily - 01 June 2018

Development: On 31 May, Mexico’s economy ministry (SE) announced that it would be adopting retaliatory measures and imposing tariffs on a range of US import products after the US government confirmed that it would be imposing tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from Mexico, Canada, and the European Union (EU).... Read More

Development: On 31 May, following a meeting between the four opposition governors and Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, Communications & Information Minister Jorge Rodríguez announced that the process of releasing some political prisoners would begin at midday on 1 June.... Read More

Bolivia: Pablo Ramos, the president of Bolivia’s central bank (BCB), has said that the conditions are right for Bolivia’s GDP growth to reach 4.7% in 2018.... Read More

Development: On 31 May, Brazil began to return to normal after oil workers cancelled their planned walkout and the lorry drivers’ strike also died down.... Read More

* Brazil’s chief-of-staff, Eliseu Padilha, has said that the ministers for consumer defence and justice should sign an agreement with the national fuels federation to make sure the R$0.46 (US$0.12) reduction in diesel prices is passed onto consumers at the pumps.... Read More

Development: On 31 May, Nicaragua’s catholic episcopal conference (CEN), which is mediating in the national dialogue between the government led by President Daniel Ortega and the opposition Alianza Cívica por la Justicia y la Democracia (comprising students, civil-society groups, and the private sector), announced it would not renew talks while the Ortega government continued repressing the Nicaraguan people.... Read More

El Salvador: El Salvador’s opposition controlled 84-member unicameral national legislature has approved an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) loan worth US$350m from the fiscal strengthening for inclusive growth programme – the objective of which is to improve fiscal management and transparency for inclusive growth.... Read More

* The value of the Mexican peso in the local currency market has fallen sharply in response to the decision by the US government to extend its tariffs on steel and aluminium imports to Mexico.... Read More

Development: On 31 May, Argentina's President Mauricio Macri defended his decision to veto a bill tabled by the main opposition Partido Justicialista (PJ, Peronist) and approved by the federal congres, which seeks to cap electricity, gas, and water tariffs.... Read More

Uruguay: Uruguay’s fiscal deficit reached 3.7% of GDP in the 12 months to April 2018 according to official figures.... Read More