Little known fact:China taking the long road to solve the petro-yuan puzzle 26 Mar 2018

Beijing's media strategy seems to have consisted in substantially play down the official launch of the petro-yuan at the Shanghai International Energy Exchange.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

South Korea denies that foreign exchange policies were included in KORUS FTA talks
" 'Discussions are under way with financial officials on both sides and the IMF and are separate from the KORUS FTA amendment negotiations, which have already essentially been concluded,' the official said."

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

China imposes tariffs in response to U.S. duties on steel, aluminium
effective Monday, 2 April 2018

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

Trade dispute escalates as Trump threatens $100 billion more in China tariffs

The further tariffs were being considered "in light of China's unfair retaliation" against earlier U.S. trade actions, which included a proposed $50 billion of tariffs on Chinese goods, Trump said in a White House statement.

Let us note: At the last volley, one week ago, Anglo-merican press valued China tariffs added to imports (excluding treasuries) from USA at $3B.

Representative By-stander, not US, EU 'producers'
South Korean exports expected to take big hit as a result of tariff increases

A rise in the average global tariff rate to 20% from its current 4.8% would result in US$50.5 billion in lost exports and the loss of around 460,000 jobs for South Korea, researchers predicted in an analysis of the effects of a global trade war in which countries around the world compete to raise tariffs.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

U R doin it rong
EU sugar companies struggle to survive as prices plunge post-quotas

"At the current price level, there is hardly a sugar company in Europe which can still produce at a break-even," a spokesman for the EU's number two producer Nordzucker said.

The EU abolished limits on sugar beet production at the end of September 2017, dramatically boosting output and paving the way for the EU to become a net exporter for the first time in more than a decade.

The rise in EU production has come at a time when appetite for sugar is declining in the increasingly health-conscious trading bloc, throwing supplies onto a world market already awash with the sweetener.

Britain's sugar tax on soft drinks comes into effect

Britain's sugar tax on soft drinks came into effect today, a move that will lead to some higher prices as the country seeks to battle childhood obesity.

The tax, announced in March 2016, has already cut sugar content in drinks by 45 million kg per year, Britain's Treasury said, as over 50% of manufacturers have reformulated their products to be below the levy's sugar threshold.

archived beets
For the first time since 1968 the UK can produce and sell as much sugar around the world as it would like. Feb 2018

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.