Economy

• Wednesday, January 6th 2021 - 09:24 UTC

  China increases Australian wool quota for 2021; NZ's remains unchanged

  

  China increased its import quota for Australian wool from 36,465 tons last year to 38,288 tons for 2021, according to a newly released official statement. The increase came at a time when China and Australia relations are going through a rough patch.

• Tuesday, January 5th 2021 - 09:44 UTC

  President Xi pledges a comprehensive strategic partnership with Argentina

  

  Chinese President Xi Jinping said that China stands ready to work with Argentina to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

• Tuesday, January 5th 2021 - 09:42 UTC

  Chile's unemployment eases to 10,8% but still several points above 2019

  

  Chile's unemployment rate eased to 10.8% between September and November, the government said in the last day of 2020, but remained well above the same period the previous year as the coronavirus pandemic continued to weigh on the economy of the world's top copper producer.

• Tuesday, January 5th 2021 - 09:07 UTC

  Brazil posted a trade surplus of US$ 51 billion in 2020. Overall trade down 7,7%

  

  Brazil posted a US$ 51 billion trade surplus last year, official figures showed on Monday, a 6% increase from the year before as the COVID-19 pandemic hit imports harder than exports.

• Monday, January 4th 2021 - 05:15 UTC

  Argentina's grain inspectors' union expect to reach a salary agreement this Monday

  

  Argentina's grain inspectors' union, Urgara, said on the last day of 2020 that its members will continue to strike over the weekend after failing to strike a wage deal despite two meetings with the Chamber of Private and Commercial Ports (CPPC).

• Monday, January 4th 2021 - 05:03 UTC

  China calls on meat processors to tighten sanitary measures before exporting

  

  China’s meat importers and processors have asked exporters in countries with Covid-19 outbreaks to step up disinfection procedures before shipping them to the Asian country.

• Monday, January 4th 2021 - 04:27 UTC

  US Congress leaders homes vandalized over failed vote to increase relief checks

  

  Vandals lashed out at the leaders of the U.S. House and Senate over the holiday weekend, blighting their homes with graffiti and in one case a pig’s head as Congress failed to approve an increase in the amount of money being sent to individuals to help cope with the coronavirus pandemic.

• Friday, January 1st 2021 - 22:41 UTC

  South Atlantic area of global contention? US Coast Guard off to South America to patrol for IUU fishing

  

  The following piece by Gidget Fuentes in USNI News offers an account of the mission of USCGC (WMSL/758) Stone, fresh from Shipyard and Quarantine, and which departed Mississippi on 22 December for Southern Atlantic Patrol:

• Friday, January 1st 2021 - 21:59 UTC

  UK and Spain agree on a separate deal for Gibraltar: it needs EU support

  

  Following the 31 December agreement reached by the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Spain referred to Gibraltar, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said…

• Thursday, December 31st 2020 - 08:30 UTC

  Argentina suspends corn export sales until March; farmers' surprised and furious

  

  Argentina will suspend sales of corn for export until Feb. 28, the agriculture ministry said on Wednesday, announcing the surprise move as part of the government's effort to ensure ample domestic food supplies.