LatinNews Daily - 17 December 2020

On 16 December, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published an economic survey of Brazil, in which it warns that the South American country could face “a protracted recession like the ‘lost decade’ of the 1980s” if it does not bring spending under control.  ... Read More

On 16 December, Peru’s prime minister Violeta Bermúdez announced that an electoral observation mission from the Organization of American States (OAS) will arrive in February 2021, to facilitate the delivery of the country’s 11 April general election.... Read More

* Ecuador’s national assembly has approved an anti-corruption reform that will allow the government to access a US$2bn disbursement from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the second instalment of the US$6.5bn emergency credit agreement signed in September.... Read More

* Brazil’s congress has approved the budgetary guidelines law (LDO) for the 2021 budget, with the senate voting symbolically following the approval of the main text by the chamber of deputies yesterday (16 December).... Read More

On 16 December Guatemala’s 160-member unicameral legislature began the process of selecting new supreme court (CSJ) justices and appellate judges.... Read More

* Costa Rica’s President Carlos Alvarado has confirmed the first shipment of four trains purchased from Chinese firm CRRC Quingdao Sifang.... Read More

On 16 December the Comisión Nacional de Salarios Mínimos (Conasami) announced a 15% increase in the minimum wage in 2021.... Read More

* Mexico’s state-owned electricity company Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) has announced plans to invest M$11bn (US$557m) in subsidiary CFE Telecomunicaciones e Internet para Todos (CFE TEIT), which works to expand internet access throughout Mexico, promoting digital inclusion to tackle social and economic inequality.... Read More

On 16 December Argentina’s Comisión de Enlace de Entidades Agropecuarias (CEEA), which comprises four leading agriculture lobbies, urged the government led by President Alberto Fernández to intervene in a strike by grains inspectors and oilseed workers over wage demands.... Read More

* Argentina’s foreign ministry has announced a new deal with its Chilean counterpart regarding the automotive sector, which will modify rules of origin applicable to bilateral trade for the sector to be implemented as of March 2021.... Read More