May 23, 2014

EXCLUSIVE Benefits of foreign investment for SMEs
Latin American SMEs can benefit from multinational firms

Many Latin American small and medium companies may profit from the sustained interest of multinational firms on their access to resources such as raw materials. This is the message of an article written by the Inter-American Development Bank’s Connect Americas, an initiative designed to help small and medium companies in Latin America, expand through international trade and investment, LBC reports.

Chevron case could destroy major law merger
Washington-based firm Patton Boggs gets into trouble

The Chevron oil pollution litigation in Ecuador continues to generate acrimony and confusion in American legal circles. The latest twist concerns Patton Boggs, one of the best known law and lobbying firms in Washington, D.C. Patton Boggs got into trouble with an uncharacteristic alliance with the controversial New York plaintiffs’ lawyer suing Chevron in Ecuador, Businessweek reports.

Rousseff holds clear lead in election polls  
Rivals gain more ground, making a run-off more likely

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff holds a clear lead ahead of Brazil's election in October, but her main rivals are closing the gap as voters begin to decide who to back, according to an IBOPE poll. Rousseff’s opponents gained more ground from growing media exposure as the campaign begins to shift gear, making a run-off more likely, Reuters reports.

Venezuela blames World Cup for airline cutbacks
Maduro says carriers are reprogramming flights for soccer tournament

The World Cup is to blame for airline cutting flights to Venezuela, said the South American country's President Nicolás Maduro (left). He said carriers aren't abandoning Venezuela but rather are temporarily adjusting flight schedules to meet demand for flights to carry soccer fans to Brazil for the World Cup tournament beginning next month, Yahoo News reports.

Sugar and steel strain U.S.-Mexico ties
Disputes come amid push for further economic integration

Disputes over sugar and steel trade between the U.S. and Mexico are straining ties between the countries just as negotiators try to hammer out the details of a Pacific-rim trade pact to further integrate their economies. U.S. producers of sugar and steel within the last year have filed separate complaints with the U.S. government, alleging that unfair trading practices by their Mexican competitors have led to a flood of imports at the American industries’ expense, Bloomberg reports.

MOREOVER

Two percent of Latin Americans have free media: Freedom House NBC News

Ten things Mexico does better than anywhere else CNN

Brazil drugstore firm rejects $2 billion offer from CVS Reuters

Citigroup's former Brazil CEO helps found merger boutique Bloomberg

Argentina bashes financial groups for speculation World Bulletin

Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway gets license to operate in Brazil Business Insider