ISDS Case Map
Uruguay
Brazil proposed in Montevideo a “new deal” for Mercosur and requested a “credit of confidence” from Uruguay, which has bitterly complained about the group's functioning and is moving closer to United States.
The U.S.-Uruguay investment treaty will boost two-way investment and commerce and help advance economic freedom in Latin America.
“We are not going to sign the TLC [Free Trade Agreement] with the United States”, said Hugo Rodriguez, secretary of the Chamber of Senators and director of the Uruguayan Socialist Party. “But we are in a difficult situation.”
The Ministers of Health of ten South American countries issued a
joint declaration on intellectual property committing themselves to
avoid "TRIPS plus" provisions in bilateral and regional trade agreements,
to facilitate the use of compulsory licensing and parallel importing and to
avoid broadening the scope of patentability and the extension of
patentable areas.
Uruguayan President Tabaré Vázquez, often cited as an example of Latin America's leftward shift, and President Bush agreed Thursday to deeper ties and talks that could lead to a free-trade pact with Washington.
After meeting with President George W. Bush, Uruguay President Tabaré Vazquez appeared on Voice of America (VOA) to say that the two presidents had “made profound advances toward a better understanding between our two countries that will permit us to improve our commercial exchanges.”
Uruguay is looking to increase trade with the US amid mounting disappointment about the benefits of membership of the Mercosur trade bloc.
Under an investment treaty signed by Uruguay and Finland in 2002, Uruguay would have to pay heavy damages if it ordered the suspension of work on the Botnia factory.
Visiting US Sen. Melquiades "Mel" Martinez, R-Fla., said during an Argentine radio interview Thursday that a free trade agreement between the US and Argentine neighbor Uruguay is virtually sewn up.
