Argentina became the first of the continent’s three top economies to sign up for the Belt and Road infrastructure initiative. Buenos Aires and Beijing have signed a memorandum of understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative, China’s multibillion-dollar global infrastructure development project. The document was part of a package of cooperation agreements signed on Sunday in Beijing during a visit... 

Ruling coalition lawmakers stand to approve the passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade deal in the lower house of the parliament in Tokyo on November 10, 2016. Japan’s Lower House of parliament has passed the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement, despite the fact the deal is likely doomed after Donald Trump’s US presidential election victory. Even... 

Rice harvested in Japan’s Fukushima region, heavily affected by a nuclear meltdown in 2011, is returning to the EU, starting with Britain next month, the Japan Times reports. A total of 1.9 tons of Fukushima rice called Ten no Tsubu will be sold in London, making the UK the first EU nation to import the region’s produce after the nuclear disaster. The sale became possible after a long campaign... 

The world’s biggest e-commerce firm Alibaba is interested in a suggestion from President Putin to create a platform that would help Russian companies export abroad. “We have seen the initiative of President Putin to create an electronic platform that would help Russian small and medium enterprises to enter export markets. And we hope very much that we can contribute to its implementation,”... 

Syria has announced plan to export more than 700,000 tons of citrus fruits to Russia after Moscow banned imports of Turkish fruit and vegetables in response to the downing of its bomber plane over Syria. A senior Syrian government official said on Tuesday that the measure aims to “fill the gap” left by Moscow’s ban on Turkish agricultural products, AFP reported. “We are preparing... 

A modern autorack in Germany. Germany’s exports have marked their biggest fall since the global financial crisis reached its peak in 2009, raising fears that Europe’s largest economy might slide into recession. Germany’s Federal Statistical Office said Thursday that exports slumped by 5.8 percent for the month of August. Moreover, imports dropped by 1.3 percent in seasonally adjusted terms, the... 

The Moroccan parliament has held a hearing into the industrial and medical benefits of marijuana use. The discussions, started by one of Morocco’s main political parties are the first steps to introduce a draft law next year aimed at legalizing the plant. The hearing, organized by the Party for Authenticity and Modernity (PAM), examined the financial exploitation of marijuana growth. PAM members... 

The outlandish purchase of billions of rounds of ammunition by the federal government has created a serious shortage in the United States. In response, according to a Russian website (Lenta.ru), suppliers in the United States are turning to Russia to fill the gap. From Lenta.ru (translated by Google) on Friday: U.S. private companies purchased from Russian producers 900 million rounds of ammunition... 

Central American coffee plantations are facing a serious challenge. Nearly 70 percent of coffee fields in Guatemala are affected by fungal infection called coffee rust. President of the Republic Otto Perez Molina introduced a state of emergency in the country. Guatemala’s national disaster threatens to turn into trouble for residents of other countries as well. Central America has long been... 

China has passed the US as the world’s biggest trading nation as measured by the sum of exports and imports in 2012. It’s a position the US has held for over six decades. ­US exports and imports of goods last year amounted to $3.82 trillion, the US Commerce Department said last week. China’s trade in goods was $3.87 trillion, according to the country’s customs administration report in January. While... 

Argentina says it will file a complaint with the World Trade Organization against the United States as the protectionism dispute between the two business partners escalates, Press TV reports. Argentine Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that the South American country will lodge a complaint with the Geneva-based organization over US “illegal” import policies. Argentina says it has... 

Iranian lawmakers aim to ban all oil exports to European countries in response to the oil ban against Iran. An Iranian lawmaker says the Majlis (parliament) Energy Committee has finalized a draft bill to stop the country’s oil exports to EU member states in reaction to the bloc’s recent decision to ban oil imports from Iran. Nasser Soudani, deputy chairman of the committee, said on Saturday... 

An Iranian Warship Tehran’s leadership has decided to order a blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz if the country’s oil exports are blocked, a senior Revolutionary Guard Commander said as reported by Iranian press. ­The strategic decision was made by Iran’s top authorities, Ali Ashraf Nouri said, as cited by the Iranian Khorasan daily. “The supreme authorities … have insisted... 

Australia has suspended exports of live cattle to a number of killing facilities in Indonesia following exposure of brutal practices in some of the country’s abattoirs. Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig said the decision was based on footage collected by Animals Australia that showed cattle being mistreated before slaughter. “I have decided to halt the trade of live animals to the facilities...