
Beijing has dropped an anti-dumping investigation into imported U.S. sorghum, which it had accused the United States of unfairly subsiding. It has also given approval for a U.S. private equity firm to buy Toshiba's memory chip business. Those gestures could suggest a thaw with the U.S. as trade talks went on in Washington in an atmosphere of hopefulness but hardly assurance of a breakthrough in the impasse.

Rockhopper Exploration PLC at its annual general meeting on Friday said 2018 could be transformational as it seeks to secure funding for its Sea Lion project in the Falkland Islands. Rockhopper said it has nearly completed selecting the main contractors for the project, in the Falklands, as well as vendor funding worth US$ 400 million.

Growth in the world economy is surpassing expectations and global GDP is now expected to expand by more than three per cent this year and in 2019, reflecting strong growth in developed countries and broadly favourable investment conditions, a new UN report finds.

The Brazilian government on Thursday admitted for the first time this year that economic growth in 2018 will be below the original target of 3% projected in January. The downgrade followed the release of economic indicators showing a slower than expected recovery.

The International Monetary Fund will move quickly to agree on a loan program to support Argentina but there are no details yet on what it will entail, a fund spokesman said on Thursday. However spokesperson Gerry Rice also underlined that the IMF nowadays has a greater focus on social protection, in particular towards the most vulnerable, ensuring the economy and living standards.

Brazilian President Michel Temer said this week that his administration has taken the country out of debt and successfully overcome the brutal economic recession of the past two years.

The recent rise of the dollar in Argentina had some impact in Uruguay, where it has an accumulation of 7.4% in May. However, for the president of the Central Bank of Uruguay, Mario Bergara, the escalation only owes 20% to the exchange rate in Argentina and rather considers that Uruguay is accompanying global trends.

Brazil's central bank unexpectedly left its benchmark interest rate unchanged on Wednesday, citing a more challenging and volatile situation in world economies. The bank left its benchmark Selic rate at an all-time low of 6.5%, after signaling at its previous meeting it would cut at least once more.

The mission is being organized by Uruguay XXI, the investment, export and country brand promotion agency, along with the British Embassy in Montevideo, the British-Uruguayan Chamber of Commerce and with the support of the UK Department for International Trade. The trade mission will be present between May 14/18.

The Falkland Islands has been positive about the outcome of the first round of fishery talks (May 14/15) referred to the South Atlantic, between Argentina and the United Kingdom. The talks in Buenos Aires, with Falklands representatives included in the UK delegation, emphasized on the exchange of scientific information and conservation of shared fishery resources in the South West Atlantic.