Reading Time: 2 minutes Taipei | Reuters — Taiwan has formally applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the government said Wednesday, less than a week after China said it too had submitted an application. Taiwan has been angling to join the grouping for a while and had already been discussing the issue informally […] Read more
Taiwan applies to join Pacific trade pact week after China
Supply/demand pushing up flax prices
Reading Time: 2 minutes Corrected, Sept. 23 — MarketsFarm — Prices for flax have skyrocketed in 2021, as the amount to be harvested has fallen while demand has increased, according to Dale McManus of Johnston’s Seeds at Welwyn, Sask. Johnston’s was paying $38 per bushel for golden flax picked up off of the farm, he said, and brown flax […] Read more
U.S. extends travel restrictions at Canada, Mexico borders
Reading Time: < 1 minute Washington | Reuters — The United States on Monday extended restrictions at its land borders with Canada and Mexico through Oct. 21 that bar nonessential travel such as tourism by foreigners despite Ottawa’s decision to open its border to vaccinated Americans. Canada on Aug. 9 began allowing fully vaccinated U.S. visitors for nonessential travel. The […] Read more
China applies to join Trans-Pacific trade pact
Second-biggest economy seeks to add to economic clout
Reading Time: 2 minutes Updated, Sept. 17 — Beijing | Reuters — Japan said it would have to determine if China meets the “extremely high standards” of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) after the world’s second-biggest economy formally applied to join. Commerce Minister Wang Wentao submitted China’s application to join the free trade agreement in […] Read more
CP, Kansas City lock in new deal as CN steps out
More efficient flow of grain, perishables, machinery parts touted
Reading Time: 3 minutes Canadian Pacific Railway and U.S. railway Kansas City Southern on Wednesday again formalized their engagement after competing suitor Canadian National Railway walked away from the table. CP and KCS, which reported “unanimous” support from both companies’ boards, have entered a merger agreement committing CP to pay about $31 billion in cash and stock, or about […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn, soybeans climb
Wheat up on global supply concerns
Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — Chicago corn futures climbed on Wednesday, supported by strength in the crude oil market and firming wheat futures. Wheat climbed as Russia joined France and Canada this week in reducing its production forecast for wheat at a time of strong global demand. Soybeans firmed, though gains were limited as canceled exports […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat firms on global supply cuts
Corn inches higher as U.S. crop ratings decline
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago wheat futures firmed two per cent on Tuesday, strengthened by global supply concerns amid strong demand, while a weaker U.S. dollar supported U.S. trade. Corn inched higher after a weekly decline in U.S crop conditions reported by the U.S. Agriculture Department (USDA). Soybeans traded both sides of even before easing […] Read more
Drought maps show little change at end of August
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Much of Western Canada remained in some state of drought at the end of August despite widespread rains late in the month, according to updated maps compiled by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The area mapped out as dealing with ‘exceptional drought’ in south-central Manitoba’s agricultural regions contracted slightly compared to the previous month […] Read more
Singapore clears all Canadian beef for import
Country first to lift BSE-era restrictions under new status
Reading Time: 3 minutes Canada’s new official international status as a “negligible risk” country for bovine spongiform encephalopathy now has its first recognition from a beef-importing nation. Singapore has approved the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s certificate for exports of all Canadian beef, including beef offal, with no restrictions on the age of the cattle from which the beef was […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Lentils up on lower production, stronger demand
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — As with so many other crops on the Prairies, production of lentils will be lower this year due to the drought. However, MarketsFarm Pro senior analyst Mike Jubinville said the lentil crop likely fared a bit better than cereals or oilseeds. Earlier this year, Statistics Canada projected lentil production to come at about […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
