“Interventions aimed at ending female genital mutilation over the last three decades are having an impact, with nearly two-thirds of the population in countries where it is prevalent expressing support for its elimination.

After decades of slow change, progress against female genital mutilation is accelerating: half of all gains since 1990 were achieved in the past decade reducing the number of girls subjected to FGM from one in two to one in three.”

From World Health Organization.

“Argentina and the United States agreed Thursday to ease restrictions on each other’s goods in an expansive trade deal that boosts a drive by President Javier Milei to open up Argentina’s protectionist economy…

After imposing sweeping tariffs on its trading partners, the Trump administration changed its tune last November in announcing framework deals with four Latin American countries, including Argentina.

The White House argued that the reduction of tariffs on Argentine beef and Ecuadorian bananas, among other imports, would improve the ability of American firms to sell products abroad and relieve rising prices for American consumers. The announcement also came as Trump’s steep tariffs drew scrutiny from the Supreme Court.

Argentina on Thursday became the first of the four countries to finalize its agreement with Washington…

Argentina will scrap trade barriers on more than 200 categories of goods from the U.S., including chemicals, machinery and medical devices, its foreign ministry said. More politically sensitive imports, like vehicles, live cattle and dairy products, will enter the country tariff-free under government quotas…

Washington, for its part, will eliminate reciprocal tariffs on 1,675 Argentine products, Argentina’s Foreign Ministry said…

The deal also shows the U.S. quadrupling the current amount of Argentine beef it imports at a lower tariff rate to 100,000 tons per year.”

From PBS News.

“U.S. President Donald Trump has extended a 26-year-old free-trade agreement with African countries that was left in doubt last year when his administration allowed it to expire while enforcing his policy of reciprocal tariffs.

Trump on Tuesday signed into law an extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, or AGOA, according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative.

But the extension is short-term, lasting only until Dec. 31. The trade office said the agreement, which gives eligible sub-Saharan African nations duty-free access to the U.S. market for some products, would be modified to account for tariffs the U.S. has imposed on other countries as part of the Republican president’s America First policy.

The agreement is key to many African countries that feared it would be another economic blow following the new tariffs and cuts to U.S. aid under Trump.”

From Associated Press.

“Argentines are scooping up Lego sets, Apple computers and Stanley thermoses from abroad, as libertarian president Javier Milei’s efforts to open the closed economy prompt a flood of foreign goods.

Total consumer goods imports jumped 55 per cent in 2025 on the previous year, reaching a record high of $11.4bn, according to official data.

Argentines also bought around three times more goods from overseas via international ecommerce platforms in 2025 than in 2024, reaching a record $955mn, as companies such as Amazon, Shein and Temu gained a foothold in the country for the first time.

The increase comes as Milei cuts tariffs and a web of import restrictions introduced by previous governments to protect domestic industries, which made foreign goods rare and expensive in Argentina.”

From Financial Times.