
Pork production in China soared in the third quarter of this year, according to official data released on Monday, as big farming businesses built huge industrial breeding establishments last year to recover the swineherd hit by the deadly African swine fever.

Silence prevailed Monday in Montevideo after Uruguay's Foreign Minister Francisco Bustillo Monday welcomed his Brazilian counterpart Carlos França to discuss bilateral issues, particularly a possible 10% reduction of Common External Tariffs among Mercosur members.

Trade between Brazil and China surpassed the 2020 record during the first nine months of this year, with overall exchange reaching US$ 100bn. Total 2021 bilateral trade is expected to reach US$ 108bn.

Following several currency swaps by which China has helped to support the Argentine central bank depleted international reserves, the administration of president Alberto Fernandez intensified relations with Beijing and a year ago allowed transactions between the two countries to be made in Yuan.

Peru's President Pedro Castillo Thursday highlighted China's importance as a strategic Asia-Pacific partner in terms of foreign trade and investments.

Uruguay's Agriculture and Livestock Minister Fernando Mattos explained during the weekend that in addition to a batch of Uruguayan beef turned down by China at the port of destination for containing excessive amounts of fat, a similar case had been detected in the port of Montevideo, which was ready to be shipped.

Argentine Defense Minister Jorge Taiana and Governor Raúl Jalil of the province of Catamarca signed late last week an agreement whereby the national Army will set up a military unit in the provincial capital.

Brazil's major protein producer and exporter, Marfrig Global Foods, also the world's largest supplier of hamburgers started this month shipments to the United States from two of its plants, one in Chupinguaia, state of Rondonia and the other at Alegrete, Rio Grande do Sul.

Uruguay's Foreign Minister Francisco Bustillo Tuesday announced the formation of a preliminary negotiating team to start talks with China over a future free trade agreement.

Argentina will resume meat exports to China as of this coming Monday, it was announced Tuesday in Buenos Aires.