Source: MORNING AG CLIPS, 1/6/19

The top U.S. trade official on Friday took a first step toward potential sanctions on Peru for allegedly violating environmental protections aimed at combating illegal logging, a case that could have ramifications for the new North America free-trade deal. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said the Trump administration has requested consultations over the Peruvian government over its decision to make an agency monitoring the notoriously corrupt logging industry part of the Environment Ministry. The agency is required to be independent under the U.S.-Peru trade pact.

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