Latin American Economy & Business
Economy & Business - July 2025
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- Brazil pursues oil exploration drive that taints green credentials
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- ECUADOR: Higher costs but more opportunities after mining overhaul
- COLOMBIA: Fiscal unravelling triggers credit downgrades
- BOLIVIA: The rise of roadblocks as a pressure tactic
- PERU: Central bank criticises finance ministry
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: Tax defeat reflects broader fiscal troubles
- URUGUAY: Orsi gets extra cash to settle debt and boost spending
- REGION: MercadoLibre takes battle with Nubank to home market
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- HONDURAS: IMF praises economic policy despite concerns of public
- COSTA RICA: Study highlights risks to investment climate
- REGION: US tax on remittances poses economic threat
- BARBADOS: Growth set to ease in 2025
- JAMAICA: Strong second quarter numbers expected
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: Backlash from US sanctions puts Mexican banks on edge
- MEXICO: Tariffs prompt GM to refocus Mexican production in US
- MEXICO: Major brewery investment raises concerns in southeast
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
The Agência Nacional de Petróleo (ANP), Brazil’s hydrocarbons regulator, held an auction on 17 June and tendered the rights to drill for oil in 34 blocks totaling over 28,000 square km, a total area nearly the size of Belgium.
Economy & Business - June 2025
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- Trinidad & Tobago’s new government faces fiscal squeeze
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: Descending into violence and financial disorder
- VENEZUELA: Maduro seeks to offset impact of Chevron withdrawal
- PERU: New finance minister appointed
- BOLIVIA: IMF raises concern over perilous state of economy
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL-REGION: China invests big amid Trump tariff crusade
- BRAZIL: JBS listing on NYSE shines spotlight on tainted record
- PARAGUAY-BRAZIL: US shoutout puts spotlight on Itaipú potential
- URUGUAY: Latest poverty rates aren’t much to celebrate
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- NICARAGUA: Mining projects in Nicaragua advance despite US sanctions
- GUATEMALA: US agrees port modernisation deal
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: Private sector warns plans to cut working week could backfire
- MEXICO: Norway’s wealth fund sells all Pemex bonds
- MEXICO: Violence having growing impact on economy
- MEXICO: Proposed US tax on remittances causes concern
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
Veteran centrist Trinidad & Tobago politician Kamla Persad-Bissessar was sworn in as the country’s new prime minister on 1 May, after her party, the United National Congress (UNC) won a landslide victory on 28 April.
Economy & Business - May 2025
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- Economy and security vie for Noboa’s focus in Ecuador
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- BOLIVIA: Minimum wage hike outpaced by galloping inflation
- VENEZUELA: Economy tanks even before US sanctions
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- ARGENTINA: End of currency controls largely successful, for now
- BRAZIL: Supreme court will have final word on outsourcing disputes
- CHILE: Boric scores with SQM-Codelco but lithium faces challenges
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- REGION: Trump tariffs uncertainty causes widespread concerns
- PANAMA: Social security reforms spark protests
- REGION: New Oxfam report sheds light on cost of tax evasion
- REGION: Preparing for the tariff shock
- CUBA: No early end to power cuts
- JAMAICA: Texas company moves into power sector
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: Gov’t addresses US agricultural disputes
- MEXICO: Water infrastructure to be revamped
- MEXICO: Recession narrowly avoided in first quarter
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
President Daniel Noboa won his re-election bid in April with a wider-than-expected margin of 11 percentage points over his left-wing challenger Luisa González.
Economy & Business - April 2025
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- Any silver lining for Latin America in Washington’s trade war?
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: Sabre-rattling grows as referendum marks early campaigning
- BOLIVIA: Fuel shortages take their toll
- VENEZUELA: Public sector pays price for electricity shortages
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: Tax breaks and cheap credit are to kick start growth
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- EL SALVADOR: IMF confirms US$1.4bn financing agreement
- HONDURAS: National blackout highlights continued issues in energy sector
- TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: US revokes licences for Trinidad-Venezuela gas projects
- ST LUCIA: Strong growth but debt burden still heavy
- REGION: Food security still a cause for concern
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: Gov’t seeks to soften blow of US automotive tariffs
- MEXICO: World Bank prescribes policies for poverty reduction
- MEXICO: Teachers’ protests set to intensify despite concessions
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
US President Donald Trump’s tariff war has been described as the biggest blow to the global trade order in a century.
Economy & Business - March 2025
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- Trump’s deportation drive threatens Mexican remittances
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- ECUADOR: Economic growth hinges on curbing violence
- COLOMBIA: Ecopetrol in a quandary
- PERU: Plans advance for major railway expansion
- BOLIVIA: First steel plant begins production
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- URUGUAY: Orsi straddles growth and welfare objectives
- ARGENTINA: Is Milei serious about a trade deal with the US?
- CHILE: Copper exports surge as investments pay off
- BRAZIL: Gol and Azul merger to strengthen aviation industry
- REGION: MercadoLibre defies weak regional economies
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- PANAMA: World Bank highlights structural issues holding back development
- COSTA RICA: Chaves vetoes bill on low-cost flights
- GUYANA: Government plans shift to gas
- GRENADA: Post Beryl economic bounce-back
- JAMAICA: Politicians divided over recession fears
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: Pemex plagued by crude oil quality issues
- MEXICO: Sheinbaum lays out tourism targets
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
The return to power of Donald Trump in the US has raised concerns over the impact that the volatile leader’s drive to deport illegal migrants and ramp up border security could have on remittances in Mexico, where they represent the largest single source of foreign income.
Economy & Business - February 2025
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- Cloud of inflation hangs over Lula in Brazil
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- VENEZUELA: Could Trump be Maduro’s economic lifeline?
- COLOMBIA: Tourist arrivals smash records in 2024
- BOLIVIA: Another Fitch downgrade as problems mount
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- CHILE: Pension reform prompts guarded optimism
- ARGENTINA: Milei notches up economic victories
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- COSTA RICA: Rains and labour shortages add to structural issues in coffee sector
- NICARAGUA: Ortega revives plan for interoceanic canal
- REGION: Economic growth unchanged for 2025 but risks are growing
- CUBA: Government announces new dollarisation moves
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: Plan México to boost national industry, keep China in check
- MEXICO: Sheinbaum to invest in road infrastructure
- MEXICO: New EU trade deal aims to up trade and cooperation
- MEXICO: Sheinbaum advances constitutional reform on GM corn
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
Halfway through President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s four-year term, the resurgence of inflation is throwing a wrench into his plan for Brazil.
Economy & Business - January 2025
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- Coming up: a surge in Caribbean debt-for-climate swaps?
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: Finance minister replaced amid budget drama
- ECUADOR: IMF praise, but deep problems persist
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- REGION: Mercosur and EU seal the deal, again
- ARGENTINA: Growth and IMF raise Milei success prospect
- BRAZIL: Rising debt weighs on economic prospects
- BRAZIL: Lower house plugs holes in tax reform
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- EL SALVADOR: Bukele moves to restart mining
- GUATEMALA: Approved budget increases social spending
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: Gov’t strengthens labour rights in gig economy
- MEXICO: Fighting monopoly power: Antitrust watchdog fines Walmex
- MEXICO: Cost of crime growing for businesses
- MEXICO: US requests dispute settlement panels amid trade tensions
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
Caribbean countries are caught in a vice.