Stories for July 24th 2018

Tuesday, July 24th 2018 - 22:01 UTC
China wants a long-last relationship with Brazil in agricultural goods

Reports that China wants a “long-last relationship” with Brazil in terms of trade in agricultural goods and other products received attention in Asian markets. The two countries are ready to take their trade relationship “to new levels” amid an escalation of global trade wars, China's ambassador to Brazil Li Jinzhang said during an agribusiness conference in São Paulo on Monday.
Tuesday, July 24th 2018 - 21:35 UTC
Brazil willing to open its market to farm products: “you have to give something to get something”

Brazil could benefit by offering access to its domestic markets in exchange for opening new foreign markets to its farm products, Agriculture Minister Blairo Maggi said on Monday, pointing to opportunities in the trade of pork and coffee.
Tuesday, July 24th 2018 - 21:27 UTC
Singapore and Mercosur confirm negotiations for a free trade agreement

Mercosur and Singapore have started negotiations for a free trade agreement, officials from both sides announced on Monday on the sidelines of the 13th Pacific Alliance Summit held in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Tuesday, July 24th 2018 - 07:00 UTC
EU waters down Mercosur expectations of a trade agreement next September

Despite EU and Mercosur countries remaining committed to reaching a trade agreement, the European Commission did not endorse the South American bloc’s target to reach an agreement by September, as substantial gaps remain between the two sides.
Tuesday, July 24th 2018 - 06:35 UTC
Some eight million of UK “just managing families” no better off than in 2003

Millions of “just about managing” families are no better off today than those in 2003, new research from the UK's Resolution Foundation indicates. The remarkable income stagnation for so many reveals that the British economy has been failing to generate income for people over many years despite record levels of people in work.
Tuesday, July 24th 2018 - 06:21 UTC
Foreign secretary pleads for more EU flexibility in Brexit talks: fears of a “no deal by accident”

A no-deal Brexit would damage British relations with Europe for a generation, Jeremy Hunt warned as he pleaded for Brussels to show more flexibility in negotiations. The Foreign Secretary used a visit to Berlin to say that while a failure to achieve a Brexit deal would be “challenging” for the UK, it would “thrive” in the long term.
Tuesday, July 24th 2018 - 06:10 UTC
Argentine natural gas for Chile beginning next October

Argentina will begin exporting natural gas to Chile from October, the Argentine Energy Ministry said on Friday, following a meeting between the governments of both countries.
Tuesday, July 24th 2018 - 05:39 UTC
Want to beat me? Try at the voting booth

By Lula da Silva, former president of Brazil - I have been imprisoned for more than 100 days. Meantime, unemployment is increasing, more and more fathers and mothers are finding themselves unable to support their families, and an absurd pricing policy for fuel caused a truckers' strike that provoked shortages in Brazilian cities.
Tuesday, July 24th 2018 - 05:30 UTC
IMF's Lagarde forced to return to Buenos Aires

An American Airlines flight carrying International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde made an emergency landing in Argentina shortly after taking off from Buenos Aires’ Ezeiza airport on Sunday, several local media outlets reported.
Tuesday, July 24th 2018 - 05:23 UTC
Argentine military will be involved in domestic security issues, announces Macri

In a radical reform of Argentina's defense doctrine, President Mauricio Macri said on Monday he is removing a ban on military involvement in fighting crime, terrorist threats and other internal security issues. Macri said he will modify a 2006 decree that limited the armed forces to defense against attacks by another country.