Stories for August 21st 2012
Argentina hits back at US and will complain in WTO trade barriers on meats and lemons
The Argentine Foreign Ministry on Tuesday hit back at the United States amid various trade barrier complaints and allegations of illegality saying that it would report the country for violating the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) rules for stopping imports of Argentine meat and citrus fruits to the US.
Peru to punish “negationism”, denying a past of killings and destruction by terrorist gangs
The Peruvian government announced that it will be sending Congress a bill that punishes the negation of the terrorist violence suffered by the country during the last decades of the last century. The bill against “negationism” is in ‘support of democracy and a unified front against terrorism’ which is still active in some parts of the country in alliance with the drug lords.
Brazil with the lowest performance in the first half of 2012 among BRIC countries
Russian GDP growth in percentage terms surpassed Brazil in the first half of the year and even if the market still prefers Brazil’s diverse economy over Russia, the South American country is now dead last in terms of economic growth in the big four emerging markets, BRIC.
Sweden will not extradite Assange if he faces death penalty in the US
The Swedish government will not extradite Julian Assange to the US should he face the death penalty there, as any possible extradition request from Washington is then subject to strict conditions, an official from the country’s Justice Ministry.
Controversy in the UK over lack of sufficient fish from its own waters
UK would have run out of fish for the year by now if it relied on stocks from its own waters, a report suggests. Annual domestic fish stocks can satisfy demand for about 233 days a year, think tank the New Economics Foundation said. This leaves the UK reliant on imported fish, such as haddock and cod, with at least one in three fish consumed in the UK imported from outside the EU.
US families dump 40% of their food every year, says environmental group
Americans throw away nearly half their food every year, waste worth roughly 165 billion dollars annually or 2.275 dollars per average family, according to a study released on Tuesday by the Natural Resources Defence Council
US and Japan file complaints at WTO against Argentine import licensing rules
The United States and Japan launched on Tuesday complaints against Argentina at the World Trade Organization (WTO), alleging that its import licensing rules discriminate against foreign goods. The two complaints follow similar litigation brought by the European Union in May.
Faklands’ Consolidated toothfish fishery under assessment for certification
Falkland Islands Consolidated Fisheries Ltd has announced that the Falklands longline Patagonian Toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) fishery has entered full assessment for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification.
Paraguay Electoral Tribunal officially announces April 2013 general election
Paraguay officially announced holding elections on April 2013, when a new president and congress will be voted. The three branches of government attended the launching of the announcement that took place at the Superior Electoral Justice Tribunal on Tuesday, one day ahead of the OAS Permanent Council debate on “the Paraguayan situation”.
Ecuador ready for dialogue with UK, but with eyes on Friday’s OAS meeting
The Ecuadorean government reiterated on Monday that dialogue with UK on the Julian Assange case will continue once London officially “withdraws” the original message with threats. Quito also is hopeful that the coming OAS extraordinary meeting will ratify full support for Ecuador as has happened with other regional organizations.
