Mexico favours Brazil trade pact

Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon has said he will propose a free trade agreement with Brazil.
“Trade enriches economies,” said Mr Calderon during a meeting of business leaders in Sao Paulo.
The comments came as he embarked on a three day visit to Brazil, when he will meet President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and visit oil firm [...]

Protectionist Ecuador erects trade barriers

Posters plastered on the walls of supermarket chains across this Andean nation proudly declare “Ecuador First.” But for many shoppers, buying domestic is no longer really a matter of choice.
In what may be the world’s most protectionist response to the global economic crisis, Ecuador’s leftist government has imposed import restrictions on everything from Peruvian shampoo [...]

China set to boost Venezuela ties

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping is due in Venezuela as part of a visit to boost Chinese ties in the region.
Mr Xi is expected to sign agreements including joint ventures with Venezuela’s state oil company, PDVSA, the Venezuelan foreign ministry said.
China is also set to inject $4bn (£2.8bn) into a joint investment fund that was [...]

‘Buy American’ Provision in Stimulus Package Concerns China

China on Monday criticized a clause in the 787-billion-dollar stimulus package passed by the US Senate which requires the use of US goods and warned against trade protectionism.
“We believe that protectionist measures will make a bad situation in the financial crisis even worse,” Trade Ministry spokesman Yao Jian told journalists.
Without naming the US directly, he [...]

US-Peru trade pact in effect with 1st shipment

Peru has sent its first shipment of textiles and other goods to the U.S. under a newly enacted free-trade pact.
The pact eliminates duties on 80 percent of U.S. consumer and industrial products exported to Peru. And it makes Peru’s duty-free status with the U.S. permanent in exchange for its cooperation in the U.S.-led drug war.
The [...]