South America: Split Decisions on Trade

Resistance among Brazilian business interests and lawmakers could short-circuit the president's moves to partner with Washington at China's expense.

Recent data show that a hoped-for economic recovery could be slow to manifest, a scenario that would decrease the president's re-election chances and possibly enable a populist government to return.

Anger at crime and corruption catapulted right-wing lawmaker Jair Bolsonaro to victory in October. As he prepares to take office on Jan. 1, 2019, here's a look back at Brazil's -- and Bolsonaro's -- past 12 months.

Brazilian President-elect Jair Bolsonaro wants to lift the bloc's restrictions on bilateral trade agreements, and the odds are in his favor.

Mexican carmarkers recently guaranteed themselves access to the United States. Now their Brazilian counterparts are looking to emulate the feat in a search for their own export markets.

To attempt to fulfill his populist campaign promises, the Brazilian president-elect will seek to remake his country's policies on corruption, security, trade and foreign relations.

In times past, Brazil's manufacturing industry ruled the roost on domestic and economic policy. Now agriculture has assumed that mantle.

After years of talks, a free trade agreement with the European Union is within reach for the South American bloc. But there's little time to spare. Political uncertainties in Brazil and Argentina could snatch the moment away.

Argentina, Bolivia and Chile all stand atop massive reserves of lithium, but only one of them appears set to benefit from the much-desired metal.

From popular anger at fuel prices to fears that a conservative populist might grab the presidency in October, Brazil's Congress has plenty to think about. Unsurprisingly, it's putting economic reform on the back burner.