It's the Law.

AGRICULTURE

Mexico will create a special fund to finance warehouses, leasing companies and lenders needing money for agricultural projects. Prior to the fund, such organizations relied on bank loans.

AIRLINES

Central American heads of state agreed to push forward a proposal to treat all air traffic over their borders as domestic flights. The proposal would require streamlining technical, customs and other systems into one policy.

ANTITRUST 

El Salvador decreed the creation of a competition oversight body to probe antitrust practices and apply sanctions when necessary. The new agency is part of a general competition law that will go into effect in January 2006. The law aims to guarantee market access within the country.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Brazil will scrap certain taxes it charges on equipment imported to modernize the nation's ports. Tax suspensions only apply to goods that are not available in the domestic market.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Chile passed a law creating an audiovisual and art protection trade group. Industry leaders will manage the body, which will protect the country's feature-length and short films, screenplays, documentaries, animations, promotional activities and research. Advertising does not fall under the law.

TAX

Venezuela ordered several U.S. companies, including fast-food chain McDonald's, food company Del Monte Foods, and pop giant The Coca-Cola Company to cease operations for two to three days for allegedly failing to follow tax codes. The country's tax agency applied fines in some cases.

TEXTILES

Argentina issued two decrees to impose safeguards on textile imports from China. One decree gives the government authorization to limit Chinese apparel imports, while the other designates safeguard measures. Argentina is relying on World Trade Organization agreements that allow safeguard measures when foreign imports threaten to disrupt the domestic market.

SOURCE: National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade ([e-mail]); Translegal, LLC ([e-mail]), LATIN TRADE