Iran, Venezuela eye trade increase, sign petrochemical deal

By Deisy Buitrago and Vivian Sequera CARACAS (Reuters) -Iran and Venezuela want to increase bilateral trade to $20 billion, up from $3 billion, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said on Monday during a visit to Caracas. During the visit the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to expand cooperation in petrochemicals with a view to…

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EU chief sees Mercosur deal this year, Lula fears environmental sanctions

By Anthony Boadle BRASILIA (Reuters) -European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday said the EU hopes to finalize its long-delayed trade deal with the Mercosur bloc of South American countries by the end of the year at the latest. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, after meeting with von der Leyen, criticized…

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US asks Mexico to review alleged denial of workers’ rights at garment facility

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States has asked Mexico to review whether workers at a denim garment factory in the Mexican state of Aguascalientes are being denied the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office said on Monday. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said the request regarding a garment…

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US decision on Mexico air safety rating independent of politics, Buttigieg says

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Monday said he told Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador last week any decision to reinstate the country’s air safety rating would not be based on politics. “The rating as I emphasized to the president is a safety decision. It’s independent of any economic,…

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Honduras opens embassy in China after cutting ties to Taiwan

BEIJING (Reuters) – Honduras opened an embassy in China on Sunday, Chinese state media reported, after the Central American nation cut diplomatic relations with Taiwan earlier this year. The embassy in Beijing was opened by foreign ministers from the two countries, state broadcaster CCTV reported. Honduran President Xiomara Castro is in China for a state…

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Mexico still has ‘differences’ with U.S. on air safety rating, president says

By Kylie Madry and David Shepardson MEXICO CITY/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. and Mexico still have “differences” of opinion regarding Mexico’s recovery of a coveted air safety rating, Mexico’s president said on Thursday. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) downgraded Mexico to the Category 2 air safety rating more than two years ago, citing safety concerns….

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Mexico president puts unity first to broker compromise in succession race

By Dave Graham MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador this week intervened in the increasingly fractious race to succeed him, a move party insiders said was aimed at warding off potential division and protecting the commanding political power base he has built. Under pressure for months from Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard…

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Mexico peso’s expected fall to be broken by favourable rate spread: Reuters poll

By Gabriel Burin BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – An expected fall in Mexico’s peso will likely be cushioned by its favorable interest rate spread, although there is a wide range of views on the currency’s prospects over the coming year, a Reuters poll of foreign exchange strategists showed. This week the peso extended a winning run…

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El Salvador slashes size of Congress ahead of elections

By Nelson Renteria SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) -El Salvador’s president signed into law an electoral reform on Wednesday that reduces the size of Congress by nearly a third, a move the ruling party says will reduce spending and critics say consolidates power ahead of elections. The reform, announced last week by President Nayib Bukele in an…

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