Oil exports have stopped since the war and uncertainty remains over who in Iraq has legal authority to sign new export deals.

ECONOMIST: Looking to a new Iraq | The

Two weeks ago, the Port of Ramsgate stopped exports after 45 sheep died in two separate incidents.

BBC: Sheep

At the height of the fishing-boat dispute, China stopped exports to Japan of these minerals, which are crucial for the manufacture of many high-technology products.

ECONOMIST: Rocky relations between China and Japan

Tehran has already stopped oil exports to France, Britain, and Greece and is now considering adding Italy to that list.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Some Iranian media had announced on Wednesday that Iran had stopped oil exports to the Netherlands, Greece, France, Portugal, Spain and Italy in retaliation for the EU's oil embargo, but this was later denied by the oil ministry.

BBC: Iran 'halts oil sales to France and Britain'

Outgoing Drug Enforcement Administrator Thomas Constantine, offering the most dire predictions, said lawmakers would create "an electronic sanctuary" for criminals intent on disrupting public safety or national security if the plan to drop controls on exports of encryption technology is not stopped.

CNN: Officials warn of 'electronic sanctuary' for criminals

Meanwhile, inspectors have stopped meat production at a plant in Poland run by a firm that exports to the UK. Viola denies claims that it was adding rotten meat to its products at the plant in the northern village of Lniano.

BBC: Further tests after 'horse DNA' find in beef products