United States

Tuesday, May 29th 2018 - 08:06 UTC
Argentina increases export tax on biodiesel to 15% from 8%

The Argentine government is raising an export tax on biodiesel to 15% from 8%, effective July 1, according to a decree published in the official Gazette on Monday. Argentina is one of the world's top providers of biodiesel fuel, exporting 1.65 million tons in 2017, but it has been hit by retaliatory tariffs in recent years.
Monday, May 28th 2018 - 07:12 UTC
US and North Korea preparing for the Trump/Kim Jong-un summit

A US team is holding talks with North Korean officials to prepare a possible meeting between President Donald Trump and the North's leader Kim Jong-un. The talks in the village of Panmunjom, in the demilitarized zone between the two Koreas, are the latest sign that the summit could take place after all.
Saturday, May 26th 2018 - 09:29 UTC
Protectionism the “darkest cloud” for the solid upswing of the global economy

The threat of trade protectionism is the biggest concern looming over a solid upswing in the global economy, IMF managing director Christine Lagarde said. The “darkest cloud” on the economic horizon is the “determination of some to actually rock the system that has actually presided over the trade relationships that we have all undertaken and enjoyed to some extent over the last many decades”, said Lagarde.
Thursday, May 24th 2018 - 07:12 UTC
May Fed minutes suggest a rate hike would soon be appropriate; next meeting in mid-June

Federal Reserve officials earlier this month suggested that another rate hike was on the way soon, while also noting several risks facing the economy, ranging from rising wage pressures to potential harm from the Trump administration's trade policies.
Wednesday, May 23rd 2018 - 08:39 UTC
Facebook' Zuckerberg avoids questions and leaves EU lawmakers disappointed

Tensions soared between a handful of leading MEPs and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg as the 34-year-old billionaire avoided answering detailed questions on the company’s data policies during a meeting in the European Parliament on Tuesday evening. Zuckerberg gave general responses to the MEPs, who came to the meeting ready to grill the CEO over Facebook’s recent data scandal, its advertising policy, and whether the social media giant is a monopoly.
Wednesday, May 23rd 2018 - 08:24 UTC
In controversial vote US Congress rollbacks 2010 banking regulations

United States lawmakers passed Tuesday the first major rollback of banking regulations enacted after the financial crisis that were aimed at protecting taxpayers from fresh economic trauma and new bank bailouts.
Tuesday, May 22nd 2018 - 06:51 UTC
Pompeo threatens Iran with “strongest sanctions in history”; Teheran says US was regressing to “old habits”

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said the US is imposing the “strongest sanctions in history” on Iran. In a speech on Monday in Washington, America's top diplomat said Iran would be “battling to keep its economy alive” after the sanctions took effect.
Tuesday, May 22nd 2018 - 06:07 UTC
Trump increases economic isolation of the Venezuelan regime of Maduro

President Donald Trump on Monday increased pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro with an executive order that restricts his regime from selling off public assets and blocks purchases of the country's debt.
Monday, May 21st 2018 - 08:52 UTC
US/China trade war “on hold”; Beijing agrees to “substantially reduce” surplus

The United States and China are pulling back from the brink of a trade war after the world's two biggest economies reported progress in talks aimed at bringing down America's massive trade deficit with Beijing. “We are putting the trade war on hold,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Sunday.
Saturday, May 19th 2018 - 09:38 UTC
Trump imposes sanctions against the powerful Venezuela clan of Diosdado Cabello

Two days before presidential elections in Venezuela, the Trump administration on Friday announced sanctions against a powerful governing party politician, accusing him of drug trafficking, extortion, money laundering and embezzling government money.