Economy

• Thursday, February 22nd 2018 - 09:20 UTC

  US share of global sales of soybean and grains to shrink as South American competition grows

  

  The U.S. Department of Agriculture sees U.S. corn and soybean exports generally increasing over the coming decade but the U.S. share of global sales will shrink as competition from South American producers heats up, the government said in its annual report.

• Thursday, February 22nd 2018 - 09:07 UTC

  Fed more positive on economic outlook ...and more rate hikes expected in 2018

  

  United States Federal Reserve officials grew more positive on the economic outlook, citing “substantial underlying economic momentum,” and were increasingly optimistic about achieving their inflation target, according to minutes of last month’s policy meeting.

• Wednesday, February 21st 2018 - 09:19 UTC

  Brexit strategy suggestion to Theresa May from 62 Conservative MPs

  

  More than 60 Conservative MPs have signed a letter to Theresa May making a series of “suggestions” about the government's Brexit strategy. The letter from the European Research Group says the UK should be free to negotiate and sign trade deals with other countries as soon as it leaves.

• Wednesday, February 21st 2018 - 08:53 UTC

  Illinois farm industry concerned with main competitors Argentina and Brazilian growth

  

  A market study tour in January to Argentina and Brazil by the US state of Illinois Farm Bureau helped farm bureau leaders and Illinois farmers learn more about their chief competitors. Tamara Nelsen, senior director of commodities at the Illinois Farm Bureau, said the original plan to go to Canada and Mexico was scrapped due to anti-trade rhetoric, which led experts to point them to South America.

• Wednesday, February 21st 2018 - 07:19 UTC

  Switzerland interested in a trade deal with Mercosur despite its own farmers

  

  Swiss Economic Affairs Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann wants to speed up a free trade agreement between Switzerland and Mercosur, but there is concern in the agricultural sector, according to the country's media.

• Wednesday, February 21st 2018 - 01:26 UTC

  Petro, the Venezuelan cryptocurrency is online

  

  The pre-sale of Petro began early on Tuesday, the cryptocurrency proposed by the Venezuelan government in recent weeks and backed by the country's natural resources. According to experts, it is “ridiculous”, arguing that the creation of a new currency would aggravate the economic crisis in the Caribbean country.

• Tuesday, February 20th 2018 - 10:18 UTC

  Vazquez in verbal clash with dissident farmers and loses his temper

  

  Uruguayan farmers are angry, and so is president Tabare Vazquez who was involved in a high tone incident, far removed from what is his normal style of an oncologist having to communicate bad news. On Monday afternoon Vazquez unexpectedly attended the first round of talks between disenchanted farmers’ lobbies with government officials to discuss a raft of measures to overcome some of the long standing complaints.

• Tuesday, February 20th 2018 - 09:43 UTC

  Brazilian government admits crucial pensions' reform will be hard to pass Congress

  

  Brazil’s political affairs minister Carlos Marun said on Monday that passage of a bill to overhaul the country’s costly social security system has effectively ground to a halt in Congress and would become a campaign issue in this year’s election.

• Tuesday, February 20th 2018 - 09:23 UTC

  Union leader political rally in Buenos Aires to challenge Macri and his policies

  

  The Argentine powerful teamsters union will be holding their first political rally in downtown Buenos Aires this Wednesday in a clear defiance of President Mauricio Macri's policies to combat inflation, launch the economy and attract foreign direct investors. Hugo Moyano a member of the unions' umbrella organization has promised to convene some 300.000 workers and has anticipated that any incidents will be the responsibility of the government.

• Tuesday, February 20th 2018 - 07:14 UTC

  Falklands' second commercial air link invitation delivered to Uruguay

  

  Representatives from Argentina and the United Kingdom formally delivered on Monday, to the Uruguayan foreign minister a letter jointly issued by the two governments requesting assistance in contacting local airlines and inviting them to communicate their interest in establishing a new weekly scheduled air service to and from the Falkland Islands.