What is happening between Mercosur and Canada? After more than a decade of stalled talks, the Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) and Canada announced in September 2025 the formal resumption of negotiations for a free trade agreement. The decision was confirmed at a meeting between representatives of the two blocs during the United Nations General Assembly in New York and represents a strategic step toward strengthening economic ties between South and North America. This move is not just symbolic: it could pave the way for one of the largest trade agreements in the South American region in recent years, with direct impacts on the economies of millions of people—from farmers to small business owners. Why does this agreement matter? A free trade agreement between Mercosur and Canada has the potential to eliminate or reduce tariffs on thousands of products, facilitate investment, increase business competitiveness, and generate new job opportunities. For ord...
Shutdown: US senators failed to reach an agreement: understand the dispute that paralyzed the US" In recent days, a phrase has once again gained prominence in international news: shutdown. The term, which means paralysis in English, refers to a recurring phenomenon in American politics, when the federal government is forced to suspend part of its activities due to lack of budget approval. The most recent episode was confirmed after long hours of negotiations in Washington, when senators failed to reach an agreement on the bills under debate. What is shutdown and why does it happen? A shutdown occurs when the United States Congress fails to approve the budget or provisional measures to fund federal government activities. Without this legal recourse, many public agencies run out of funds and must suspend services deemed "non-essential." This phenomenon occurs because, unlike other countries, the United States relies on periodic authorizations to release governme...