Brazil and Southern Cone

Brazil & Southern Cone - June 2025

This June edition of the Latin American Regional Report: Brazil & Southern Cone begins with a look at the cooperation agreements between China and South American countries including Brazil and Chile, the presidents of which travelled to Beijing in May.

Brazil & Southern Cone - May 2025

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Introduction
- Introduction
Argentina
- End of currency controls largely successful, for now
Brazil
- Tighter rules for police in Rio favelas
- Supreme court will have final word on outsourcing disputes
Paraguay-Brazil
- Spying scandal impacts bilateral Itaipú talks
Chile
- Boric scores with SQM-Codelco but lithium faces challenges
- Botched museum project topples veteran senator
Economic Highlights
- Economic Highlights

This May edition of the Latin American Regional Report: Brazil & Southern Cone begins with an analysis of the President Javier Milei’s decision to lift currency and capital controls in Argentina, which was facilitated by a sizable financing package led by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Brazil & Southern Cone - April 2025

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Introduction
- Introduction
Region
- Any silver lining for Latin America in Washington's trade war?
Uruguay
- New gov't raises urgency on insecurity
Argentina
- Flash flood devastates city in Buenos Aires province
- Milei forces through judicial picks
Brazil
- Tax breaks and cheap credit are to kick start growth
- Local authorities ramp up hardline security stance
Economic Highlights
- Economic Highlights

This April edition of the Latin American Regional Report: Brazil & Southern Cone begins with a regional outlook, examining the reactions in Latin America to US tariffs that President Donald Trump announced on 2 April.

Brazil & Southern Cone - March 2025

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Introduction
- Introduction
Argentina
- Argentine government bolsters border security
- Is Milei serious about a trade deal with the US?
- Patagonia reels from forest fire outbreaks
Uruguay
- Orsi straddles growth and welfare objectives
Chile
- Copper exports surge as investments pay off
- Gov't seeks regional allies on anti-gang policies
Brazil
- Gol and Azul merger to strengthen aviation industry
- Violent death rate continues to drop
Region
- MercadoLibre defies weak regional economies
Economic Highlights
- Economic Highlights

This March edition of the Latin American Regional Report: Brazil & Southern Cone begins by looking at the efforts of the government of Argentina to tackle transnational crime around the country’s northern borders.

Brazil & Southern Cone - February 2025

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Introduction
- Introduction
Brazil
- Cloud of inflation hangs over Lula in Brazil
- Crime waves flares up in Amazonian border state
Argentina
- NGOs alarmed over government’s security policies
- Milei notches up economic victories
- Setbacks for indigenous land rights
Chile
- Pension reform prompts guarded optimism
- Boric reaffirms Chilean claim in Antarctica
Economic Highlights
- Economic Highlights

This February edition of the Latin American Regional Report: Brazil & Southern Cone begins with a look at the resurgence of inflation concerns in Brazil.

Brazil & Southern Cone - January 2025

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Introduction
- Introduction
Region
- Mercosur and EU seal the deal, again
Brazil
- Spectre of putschist legacy looms over military
- Authorities call for measures against police brutality
- Rising debt weighs on economic prospects
- Lower house plugs hole in tax reform
Argentina
- Growth and IMF raise Milei success prospect
Chile
- Congress passes key security legislation
Paraguay
- Doubts over commitment to DEA cooperation
Economic Highlights
- Economic Highlights

This January edition of the Latin American Regional Report: Brazil & Southern Cone begins with an analysis of the free trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) regional trade bloc, which had been in the making for a quarter of a century.