* The Venezuelan Executive Vice-President Jorge Rodríguez announced the elimination of value-added tax on six food items, on terrestrial transportation for priority food products and on white corn used to manufacture food concentrates for animals.  The products that will no longer be levied with VAT include beef, pork, turkey, mayonnaise, oat, and creamy white cheeses.


* Rodrgíguez explained that the decision is aimed demanding the prices of beef to remain unchanged as set forth by the government.

* The senior official also announced agriculture subsidies amounting to USD 183.4 million for cotton, sugar cane, corn, sorghum, and rice growers. In exchange, growers will have to preserve prices unchanged.

* Minister of Finance Rodrigo Cabezas said the quota for credit card transactions increased from USD 4,000 to USD 5,000 per year, while cash withdrawals in ATMs abroad rose from USD 400 to USD 600.

* The quota for credit card purchases over the Internet increased from USD 2,500 to USD 3,000 a year, according to Cabezas.