内容摘要：acknowledgment of wrongdoing since the stream of allegations began.

acknowledgment of wrongdoing since the stream of allegations began.

Already, cocoa prices were rising in the country, in part because of insufficient and irregular rainfall in Ivory Coast.The U.K.-based Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit research firm has noted a 32% rise in the price of cocoa imported into the United Kingdom over the last three years, partially due to extreme weather conditions in parts of Africa where it’s mainly grown. Together, Ivory Coast, Ghana,

and Cameroon produce about three-quarters of the world’s cocoa.Cocoa is traded on a regulated, global market. In Ivory Coast, the government usually sets cocoa prices at the onset of each season, with prices reflecting market trends and global prices. The local prices are, however, lower than the global market rates, thereby limiting the farmers’ profit from high global prices.Authorities say they are already considering cocoa price increases if the U.S. tariff comes into effect.

“Donald Trump’s customs tax is causing us problems. We are already feeling the effects,” said Boss Diarra, coordinator of the local cocoa farmers’ union in Bouaflé in central Ivory Coast. He pointed to bags of cocoa that he said farmers have been unable to sell.Meanwhile, a U.S. tariff could mean more cocoa for European markets, said Bruno Marcel Iritié, researcher at the Ivorian Félix Houphouët-Boigny Polytechnic Institute. Some of the top importers of Ivory Coast cocoa are in Europe, market data show.

European customers “will inevitably buy cheaper because when there is too much, the customer is king,” Iritié said.

For more on Africa and development:and James Wood also went deep as the Washington Nationals routed the Seattle Mariners 9-0 on Wednesday night.

Luis García Jr. and Josh Bell launched consecutive homers to help back Trevor Williams (3-5), who tossed six splendid innings. Bell finished with three hits and Wood drove in three runs.Playing his sixth major league game, Hassell hit

to make it 7-0. The touted rookie began the night batting .118 (2 for 17) with one RBI since making his debut last Thursday.The 23-year-old Hassell was drafted eighth overall by San Diego in 2020 and traded to Washington — along with Wood, CJ Abrams and MacKenzie Gore — for Juan Soto and Bell in a blockbuster deal at the August 2022 deadline.